Issue No. 67

Summer 2015

Wisdom From A Five Year Old

Dear Friends of Balancing Act,

My granddaughter Taylor, at 5, is quite the self-assured young woman, with many opinions.

In just one afternoon with her this week, I discovered as many tips for success in work and life as I'd get from a shelf full of business books.

And oddly enough, they tracked the wisdom of experts I'd already picked out for my summer newsletter.

So first, from Taylor:

1. Sometimes, it's good to be quiet.
2. We've been quiet long enough; let's go!
3. Of course I'm going to bed early; I have to get up early.
4. You drink too much coffee. You should drink more water.
5. That is a smart idea you have. I'm going to tell my mom about it.

Taylor has already learned the importance of balancing things, taking care of herself, and affirming other people. And that, in a nutshell, covers the teachings of several researchers and writers featured this month in the areas of introversion, well-being and sleep.

Since they're on point with the wisdom of our family mensch, I think they're worth checking out.

Pat

The Quiet Revolution Online

Susan Cain

Do crowds energize you, or drain you? Do you typically need time to re-charge? Then you may well be one of those introverts Susan Cain talked about in her book Quiet: The Power of Introversion in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

Cain has now helped launched an online community, The Quiet Revolution, to celebrate the gifts of introversion and unlock its power.

The site features an extroversion-introversion self-test, blog posts and art submissions by introverts, and articles about the power of introversion. Extroverts, too, are invited to wander around the site and learn more about the power of teamwork with their quiet colleagues and friends.

Are You Fully Charged?

In his latest book, Are You Fully Charged?, Gallup senior scientist and adviser Tom Rath offers three keys to energizing work and life.

In a nutshell, they are benefitting others, having more positive than negative interactions, and making good choices for your physical and mental health.

This latest of Rath's business books expands the scope of well-being beyond the principles of Eat, Move, Sleep, in which he demonstrated the syngery between eating right, exercising and sleeping enough.

Fully Charged, a documentary film based on the book, will soon be available as well.

Get Moving - Two Minutes an Hour!

We all know that the sedentary life is not a prescription for optimum health. But a study from the University of Utah School of Medicine indicates that those who get up and move around for at least two minutes an hour have a 33 percent lower risk of dying.

This is not to say that two minutes is enough. Researchers suggest that the two-minute routine be in addition walking at least 2.5 hours a week.

But two minutes an hour is digestible and makes on-the-job exercise worth considering in service of a longer life.

What can you do for two minutes an hour to get moving?

In This Issue

Quick Links

Pat's Website

Dog Journal

Latest Column

COACHING TWEETS

Do you tweet?
Does
getting it all done at home and work challenge you?
Then follow @patsnyder on Twitter for daily inspiration and questions to make you think.

PAT'S RECENT
COLUMNS

Since the last newsletter, Pat's Balancing Act columns have taken on several
crazy-makers:
Time management systems, Amazon Prime, and the weekend getaway.

If any of these things make you crazy too, click on the topic for vicarious enjoyment.

LEASH LAW

Cheap Summer Fun

Potluck picnics and grilling parties where everyone takes a turn make summer an easy time to get together with little preparation or expense.

Add the food to a free summer concert, and you're golden. Sure beats stuffing the youngsters with Saltines while you wait for the entrees at a restaurant.

This is based on one of the 74 leash laws offered in Pat's book, The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life.