| Purposeful News
October 2009 |
Greetings!
While driving to an appointment recently I couldn't help but notice how the tree leaves had changed color, announcing Autumn's arrival. Autumn in Missouri is my favorite season because I love the weather changes and the beautiful fall foliage. I actually look forward to it!
We don't always look forward to changes in our lives though do we? Undeniably, change is hard work. However when we persevere, change often rewards us in many ways.
This month's issue will celebrate change and show you how making small changes through planning can save lots of time. Additionally, I hope to encourage you to stick with your own change efforts until your work is done.
Happy changing!
Janna
Janna Rust
Coach & Founder
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How many times have you tried to change a habit, only to fall off the "wagon" and revert back to your old ways? If you are like me, you can't precisely answer this question because you've done it too many times to count.
Practically speaking, it takes more time to integrate a new habit than the 21 days many self-help gurus profess. Habits are the routines of life, those things that we do without thinking. In many cases, habits are things we have done all of our lives. Lasting change requires time, persistent focus and significant motivation to overcome life-long patterns.
We we need to remember that behavior change takes time when we expect change from ourselves or those we lead. From my experience as a leadership coach I can tell you that it can sometimes take many months for clients to truly implement permanent change into their lives. While not impossible, change is difficult in our fast-paced culture.
What one thing needs to change in your environment or in you?
When you decide what one thing that is, do the following:
- Find someone to hold you accountable for the change.
- Be patient with yourself and/or others.
- Connect well with what motivates you to make the change.
Change is challenging, but possible, if you are motivated for the right reasons. Hang in there and press through until you've reached your goal...for good!
NOTE: Personal coaches are excellent change partners. If you want to make a change and need some help, contact me for a complimentary consultation. |
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Make Time to Save Time
Most people today are overwhelmed with having too much to do and too little time. We spend our days fighting "fires" rather than attending to things that would make the most impact both in the short and long-term.
One of the most overlooked pieces of the time management puzzle is the planning process. Some of us don't plan because we don't know how. Others of us don't plan because we don't think we have time to plan. While planning does take time, proper planning can save time...and lots of it!
Productivity expert Brian Tracy says the following about the time saving benefits of planning:
- Every minute spent in planning saves as many as 10 minutes in execution.
- It takes only about 10-12 minutes to plan out your day. This small investment will save you up to two hours (100-120 minutes) in wasted time and diffused effort throughout the day.
- Working from a list can increase productivity by 25% per day from the first day you begin working consistently from a list.
What could you do with an extra 2 hours per day? How do these statistics motivate you to plan?
Don't be afraid of planning. Planning prevents panic and paves the way for us to tend to what what matters most in our lives...even if that means just taking a nap.
What will you do today with what you've learned?
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