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| Contact Pat |
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2873 Martin Rd. #378
Dublin, Ohio 43017-2094
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Dear Friends of Balancing Act,
 I had lunch the other day with a lawyer friend. The fast pace of a lunch squeezed between appointments reminded me that lunch hours can be more stressful than relaxing.
Did you know that some of the best lunch hours can be mini-vacations that don't focus on food? In this issue, you'll learn about five mini-breaks that cost you nothing and gain you some sanity, and a powerful question to get you thinking.
I've been so impressed by the helpful tips I run across from life coaches, that I've that I've decided to share a favorite in each newsletter. This month, take a quick look at what one Columbus coach says about Getting Unstuck.
The recession, of course is fertile ground for my favorite sport - Catastrophizing. This month's Leash Law deals with catastrophizing and how to Stop It Right Now!
Finally, speaking of Leash Laws, you'll find 74 of them in my upcoming book, The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life, which comes out June 1. Learn about the speeches and workshops I'm offering in connection with The Dog and Mark Your Calendar for my book launch party Saturday, June 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lavash Cafe in Columbus.
Pat |
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| Give Me A Break! |
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It's lunchtime, but you're on a roll. Who needs lunch when a report is due? You do! Even a short break can be a productivity-building refresher. Try these mini-breaks to spark your creative thinking and help you work smarter and more efficiently:
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Play photographer. Pack a camera and let it take you on discovery mission around your workplace neighborhood. Look for unnoticed miracles and random scenes, and shoot away.
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Take a music break. An I-Pod with your favorite mix can lead you to a better place fast.
- Eavesdrop. Ride up and down the elevators or walk down the street for the sole purpose of eavesdropping. Let one random comment carry you into a make-believe tale. Don't laugh. Novels are born this way.
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Try this energy exercise that my husband learned from a qigong practitioner. Slowly inhale through your nose and imagine the air is golden and shimmering. Hold your breath for a moment. Slowly breathe out and imagine the air is gray. (No hyperventilating!)
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Simply walk around the block. The change of scenes, the fresh air, the rhythm of the walk all conspire to give you a brain boost.
Have you tried some mini-breaks that worked well for you? Some that were a total bust? Share your stories in The Dog Journal. |
| The Power of a Question |
Along the same lines, I bumped into another powerful question last month during a training session in the World Caf� method of group discussion. And it was this:
Who am I, and when was the last time I had a conversation that made a difference to me? What were the characteristics of that conversation?
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| Try These Questions to Get Unstuck |
Andrea Dowding, owner of Executive and Life Coaching. offers three questions to ask ourselves if we're thinking of making a change but feel stuck.
1. What do I leave behind?
2. What do I take with me?
3. What's holding me back?
So grab a notebook and start listing. You'll be surprised at the insights you gain!
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| Leash Law No. 5: Catastrophizing. Who? Me? |
 I used to believe that imagining every minor problem into a catastrophe was the new yoga. The relief that followed when the catastrophe did not actually occur was so relaxing, I figured, that catastrophizing was actually better than meditation.
In case you hadn't noticed, my theory of catastrophizing for inner peace has been debunked by best-selling author Eckhart Tolle, who points out in The Power of Now and his Oprah-broadcasts/ webcasts on the subject, that greater peace comes from being in the moment. Or, to summarize his 224 pages: "When you're there, be there."
So instead of saying "Oh my God, oh my God," say "When you're there, be there," and you'll be peaceful. Also, trendy.
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| Attention: Program Planners! |
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 In conjunction with the June 1 release of The Dog Ate My Planner, I'll be giving speeches and workshops on the theme "Laugh Away Your Chaos With The Dog."
The gist is that we can reduce our stress and improve our creativity and productivity by learning to see the lighter side of life. I found this to be true as I laughed away the chaos in my own life for nearly a decade by writing a humor column about life-gone-wrong,
If you belong to a community group that needs a speaker for its 2009-2010 program year, I'd love to customize a program for you. For worthy causes connected to work-life balance, I can also offer fundraising opportunities through sales of The Dog.
Contact me for a brochure, or check out the program descriptions for speeches and workshops on my web page. If you know a program planner who might be interested, please forward this newsletter along.
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Copyright 2009 Pat Snyder
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