A Boomer's Footprint

Category: Self

our Self – who we truly are, our spiritual side,
our essence.

Have you discovered your true purpose for your life?
What are you most passionate about? Are you learning
new things, growing, stretching your limits?

Are you proud of who you are? Are you making a difference?

  • Planning a big life change

    In review, the blog posts so far have covered:

    20 weeks – discovering our biggest dreams which fulfill our passions, bring us joy and happiness and are fueled by the
    self beliefs and positive thinking that we can have a life we desire.

    15 weeks – overcoming various obstacles which stand in our way. Some topics included: negative self-talk, facing our fears, time management, non-working relationships, procrastination, and cleaning up various messes around us.

    While we may not be absolutely ready, willing and able, with the confidence and belief to make all of our dreams can come true, this next series of posts – from September 5th through December 31st is a challenge to choose one of the dreams on our list and make it happen.

    We will be making a plan to create a big change in life.

    But don’t panic – along the way we will strengthen our belief systems and work on overcoming obstacles still getting in the way.

    Often, I will suggest that you look at your calendar and realistically pick a goal or task which fits into your schedule, BUT for these next 15 weeks, I am challenging you to complete:

    one goal which will bring you the most joy, happiness, pride and satisfaction

    OR

    one goal which you may have been procrastinating about for awhile

    OR

    one goal which will fulfill a big life dream

    OR 

    one goal which will help you overcome a fear

    OR

    one goal which you decide is most important for you

    To get started each day take a few moments and day dream about what will make you happiest and jot down some notes in your journal.

  • Time management

    How many times do we say and hear others say: “I am so BUSY.”

    Life can easily become overwhelming with over commitments, work schedules, household chores, and maintaining relationships.

    So we often say – I don’t have the time as an reason or excuse for not getting things done.

    There are solutions.

    (1) Learn to say NO. Be sure you want to do something before making a commitment. Is the activity one that will bring you
    Closer to your goals and dreams. It is truly how you want to spend your time.

    (2) Prioritize your tasks. We often spend the majority of our time on the more unproductive tasks. Determine what task will provide the best results.

    (3) Spend quality time every day on your priority – even 10 minutes a day can be effective. This type of commitment works well with achieving fitness goals, cleaning up messes, preparing home cooked meals, even just sitting down and reading a book.

    (4) Eliminate time wasters. To constantly check emails, texts, and Facebook messages is very distracting and unproductive. Test yourself – using a timer determine how much real time is spent on a computer or cell phone.

  • Messes

    There are many messes in life. Today’s post focuses on the physical ones around us – at home, work, in our car, closets, etc.

    When we have chaos around us, it is difficult to focus on creating the life we dream of.

    Messes are a problem because:

    They are a distraction – to constantly be looking at unfinished projects can have a psychological effect we may not even be aware of.

    They waste time – we can spend time moving piles from one location to another without organizing the items. Also, when we cannot find things, we waste even more time looking for them – such as our keys, glasses and cell phones.

    Unsorted messes don’t go away (unless we have a magical helper).

    What to do:

    (1) make a list of every mess around you. I am not kidding. Until we know the extent of your challenge, we will not be able to get a real handle what needs to get done.

    (2) group related clean ups together. Eg. Start with a box for donations, go through rooms and discard things which you no longer want or need. Already we can lighten our load.

    (3) make a priority list. What project when completed will bring the greatest satisfaction.

    (4) allocate time everyday to work – even 10 minutes can make a difference.

  • Asking for support from your community

    Whenever we begin a process to pursue our dreams, there will always be skeptics, nay-Sayers, and sometimes negative input from family, friends, and colleagues about our new choices and likelihood for success.

    These attitudes are understandable. People are generally not comfortable with change.  Look at how long it took us to take even small steps to have the life and dreams that we want.

    It is best to let your community know up front in an organized, planned out, thoughtful, confident manner with no excuses or apologies about your commitment you made to yourself to change.

    Let them know what you are working on – a new adventure, career, or challenge, even a hobby – whatever the dream is – big or small.

    Ask them for what you need:
    Ask for the encouragement to take small steps in a new direction.
    Ask for acceptance of who you will become.
    Ask for the time and space to make small changes in your life.
    Ask for what you need from your group to become successful.
    Ask how you can help others to follow their dreams.
    Ask for forgiveness (in advance) if your new path threatens or harms them.

    Not everyone will be supportive.  So it is important to discount the negativity and doubts and stay true to yourself and follow your dreams.

    Over time when your community sees your unwavering commitment and dedication to your goals and dreams you may begin to generate more positive responses, support and feedback.

  • External Obstacles

    These next few blog posts address external obstacles that directly impact our individual lives. The topics will include our environment, time management, and our relationships.

    External obstacles can get in the way of our achieving success in reaching our goals and dreams.

    It is easy to let external obstacles become:

    -1-  Crutches – we can lean on obstacles as a reason for a failure

    -2- Excuses – we can create so many excuses for WHY, WHY, WHY.

    why we didn’t finish a project
    why we are unhappy
    why we can’t we ever find things
    why we are not achieving success

    -3- Distractions – obstacles can keep us unfocused on our priorities, our goals, our mission.

    Sorry for the short post this week, but can not let any external obstacles get in my way right now.

    I am merging the contents from a second three bedroom home into my smaller already furnished apartment.

    This means I must look at, touch and decide on everything which is in this house.  Does it stay or does it go?
    In the end, this is becoming a very therapeutic process of letting go.

    No crutch – I am relying on myself to get the job done.

    No excuses – I can not procrastinate about the task.

    No distractions – I must stay focused on my deadline.

    Using technique over the coming weeks,  we  will address external obstacles which stand in the way of making our dreams come true.

  • How to overcome procrastination

    Procrastination is such a big obstacle that I am writing an extra blog post with suggestions to overcoming this obstacle and to getting things done.

    Do not become overwhelmed with this list.  Look for the tips, which can help you the most. Remember, putting off a task, does not make it go away.

    As you begin, focus on the benefits you will receive when you stop procrastinating and start taking action.

    How to break out of the cycle of procrastination – tips from my mentor, Raymond Aaron

    Create a new mindset:

    Look at past successes – what did I learn that I can carry into this task

    Adjust your attitude – develop an “I can do it” mentality

    Develop self management skills – keep focus on task at hand

    Look at project from the goal oriented viewpoint

    Recruit support – get a fan club, an accountability partner “60% is good enough” by avoiding perfectionism, you save a lot of time.  The lower bar has a bigger chance of success.

    Remove distractions:
    • Work on messes – a clear, clean environment equals clearer mind
    • Do not multi-task – pay attention to the highest priority task only

    Getting started / Time Management:

    Create new habits.

    Focus on the most important thing first and get it done

    1- Make your to do list – list everything that needs to be done
    2- Prioritize the tasks
    3- Break a big job into manageable parts  – divide and conquer
    4- Allow enough time to complete a task – consider how much time is available and complete a small step in that timeframe
    5- Keep the list in front of you keep checking them off
    6- Work in small steps and cross items off the list
    7- Begin to accomplish just 3 small tasks each day

    Take any necessary breaks and enjoy them.

    After your success:

    End of day preparation – review what was accomplished, make list of things to accomplish the next day – set the real
    priorities and do them first.

    Reward yourself for even the smallest effort/

    Last tip from The ultimate solution by David Allen

    DO IT NOW!– the 2 minute rule – if something can be accomplished in two minutes of less Do it Now.  What takes more time – record it for later.

  • Procrastination

    One of the more common obstacles is procrastination. Procrastination can be a hard obstacle to overcome, especially if it has become a life long habit.

    Procrastination – according to Wikipedia – refers to the act of replacing more urgent actions with tasks less urgent, or doing something from which one derives enjoyment, thus putting off impending tasks to later time.

    “I am going to start putting things off starting tomorrow“.  Sam Levenson

    What do we gain by procrastinating? Unfinished tasks do not go away and if they are in our visual sight can be a constant reminder of failure.

    Procrastination can create stress, a sense of guilt and crisis, a loss of personal productivity, frustration, lack of self-confidence, or social disapproval for not meeting deadlines or responsibilities.

    So why do we procrastinate:

    We don’t love doing the activity
    FEAR – we want to avoid the unfamiliar
    We are not competent to do the task
    We underestimate the time frame the task requires
    We believe we must be in right mood to do the task
    We are unorganized
    We believe we need the task to be perfect
    We don’t see the reward by completing the task
    There is an underlying issue – eg. we must make an uncomfortable decisions, etc.

    Here is one quick tool to overcome procrastination.

    Start by doing something that gives you a sense of accomplishment.

    Take a small step, such as:

    – as a health goal –  10 minutes of stretching or walking, cooking a pot of soup

    – as a personal development goal – writing in your journal every day

    – as a personal time goal –  working in the garden, calling a friend

    – as a mess goal – straightening up a room, reading back magazine issues

    What do you need to complete?

    Choose an activity which you have enjoyed doing in the past.

    –The point is to just get started on a consistent, regular basis.

    When you complete your goal, pay attention to how you feel.  Is there an improvement in your mood?

    Reward yourself for achieving a success. Make a list of the daily accomplishments in a journal. It helps us focus on how many things we DO.  Read through it daily, smiling as you recall success.

  • Enjoying better health

    I know the two words “health issues” cover a very broad spectrum. And since I am not a medical professional, I will avoid specific examples and remedies.

    I want to focus on a concept of living in good health.

    As we know from personal experience or the experiences of others, overcoming a health problem can frustrating, time consuming, and expensive, especially if diagnosed with a severe illness,  disease or ongoing medical condition.

    While we have excellent medical care available in this country, there can still be conflicting opinions on the best course of treatment. A primary consideration should be to address a concern immediately. The longer symptoms continue the worse a condition can become.

    One caveat, be cautious of your reliance on medical information learned on the web. It is best used to prepare yourself for a medical appointment.

    The best health tip I can give is to Practice Prevention!

    We all know what we are “supposed to do” but as a reminder here are some benefits of 6 top health choices:

    -1- Get enough sleep – sleep strengthens memory, curbs inflammation, improves physical performance, helps maintain a healthy weight, lowers stress, and helps avoid irritability.

    -2- Eat five small meals a day – we are what we eat so chose healthy foods. We know what they are – read labels, eat low on the food chain, eliminate empty calories, avoid processed foods and excess fats, salt and sugar.

    -3- Meditate – meditation improves creative thinking, promotes better relationships, reduces stress, increases immunity, creates emotional balance, and helps with weight loss.

    -4- Exercise regularly – choose an activity that you enjoy to provide both cardio-vascular and strength training. Exercise can help control weight, combat health conditions, improve mood, boost energy and promote better sleep.

    -5- Drink plenty of water – adequate water consumption improves the brain, mood and the skin, aids in weight loss, fuels muscles, assists with digestion and helps fight sickness.

    -6- Reduce stress – it assists in weight loss, increases happiness, promotes better sleep, increases life expectancy, provides relief from aches and pains, and increases memory.

    Did you notice the similarities in the benefits, the unstated one is that by gradually incorporating healthy choices into your daily living, you can improve the quality of life tremendously.  As you begin to feel better, your outlook improves and your desire to feel even better increases.

    This is a good treadmill to get on.

    So to begin choose one of the options from tackling obstacles post:

    (1) Pick the easiest health improvement option and work it into your life and schedule. The benefit for this choice is you can begin to see results quickly.

    (2) Pick the most needed item, persevering until it becomes a healthy habit. The benefit for this choice is that you can create a long term change in your life style.

    Why is it so hard to follow best health practices?  To ensure success, connect with a health buddy and follow a plan together.

    Good luck.

  • Tackling obstacles

    When we begin the process of making life changes, the number of issues we may face could seem overwhelming.  It becomes hard
    to decide where to begin.

    If you made the list of items in your life which need improvement last week, then you know what I mean.

    My list included over 75 items. While this is a long list, I broke my list into small steps, which I could accomplish in an hour or two, a day at the most.

    If you listed big items on your list, rework it by breaking the tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

    Once you are happy with your list, review it and prioritize the tasks.

    There are two options here:

    (1) Pick the smallest obstacle to tackle first. The benefit for this choice is you can complete a task and check it off the list.  Right away then you achieve a success.

    (2) Pick the largest obstacle and begin there, persevering until you have completed it. The benefit for this choice is that you can make a substantial improvement in one area of your life.

    Here are some factors to consider when making your first priority:

    • Are you ready to overcome this obstacle?  If you are not emotionally and physically ready to accomplish a task, it will not happen.

    • How much time you have available today, this week? Be realistic about your schedule.  If you day or week is already committed, can you find any time to work on a problem?

    • Do you have the necessary tools to complete the task? If you are cleaning out the garage, do you need new shelves or boxes for better storage?

    • Do you know how to solve this problem or do you need to get help? We may not have all the skills to handle every task or problem we face, be prepared to ask for help.

    When working through issues, it is best address them one at a time.  Contrary to some popular thoughts, multi-tasking rarely works.

    The brain does not function at its best with many distractions, and by starting and stopping projects.  This is true on a personal
    level and while completing work projects.

    Next week we will look at how to overcome a health issue.

  • Overcoming Personal Obstacles

    Beliefs, fears and doubts are not the only things standing in the way to achieving our goals and dreams.

    Our past circumstances and outcomes do not have to impact our chance of  attaining success today. We all have had experiences,
    which have challenged us. It is probable that obstacles will surface in the future.  This is the nature of life. We live, we learn and
    we move forward with a positive spirit and belief in our abilities to create the life we want and deserve.

    We do this by making small changes each and every day in our lives to minimize our action and reactions to the obstacles we face
    and by making  better choices for today.

    This next section of the program includes 10 weeks of overcoming obstacles.

    Some of the topics are:

    • cleaning up messes
    • procrastinating
    • not delegating
    • non-working relationships
    • managing time
    • work environment
    • disorganization
    • our physical environment

    Don’t freeze and panic thinking about what it will take to change our environment and work habits.  Changes do not happen overnight.  This is why throughout my program I encourage you to take small steps, making progress 10 to 15 minutes a day will get the job done.  What is crucial is to get started and stay consistent with your efforts.

    Begin today by making a numbered list of all of areas in your life which need fixing or improvement.   Be honest and complete. If your list is 100 items long, so be it.  At least now you know. Writing things down, makes them real and your list will give your a starting point.

    So far mine are:  20 unread magazines, stacks of mail, saved reference articles to read and file, a full hallway closet, unfiled folders, disorganized clothing shelves, and more.  If you have similar projects you are not alone.

    Let’s commit time this summer while enjoying the good weather and late nights to also take steps to improve our life.