Simplify Archives - The Quotable CoachThe Quotable Coach

“The rising sun blesses my mind with joy. The setting sun blesses my heart with peace.”

—Sri Chinmoy, 20th Century Indian Spiritual Leader

Image from Unsplash by John Towner

Before electricity and the light bulb, our sun and perhaps the occasional fire influenced every aspect of life.

Sunlight was man’s alarm clock to rise and go about the day, to survive and be productive.

When the sun went down, it was time to relinquish our efforts and find safety in our homes with our family. It was time, hopefully, to settle into a peaceful and safe slumber until the sun woke us again.

How has the world — and particularly your life — changed from this simpler time? Consider the fact that we live in a world where the lights never seem to go out, even if its the dim light of your smart phone or the numbers on your alarm clock.

EXERCISE:

How much additional joy and peace might you experience if you more fully embraced a life guided further by the rising and setting of the sun?

“Our life is frittered away by detail … simplify, simplify.”

– Henry David Thoreau, American author, philosopher, and transcendentalist

Image from Flickr by joshuahoffmanphoto.

Time management is one of the top priorities of most people entering a coaching relationship. When I explore with these individuals what fills their day, it frequently includes:

Email
Unproductive meetings
Internet use
Social media
Paperwork
Unwanted interruptions
Traffic jams
Lengthy commute times
Excessive kids’ activities
Housework
Cell phone use

There is simply not enough day or energy to ever get it all done.

Exercise:

Try some of the following techniques to reduce the frittering and simplify your life.

1. Create a time log to discover where your time actually goes. Self-awareness is the first step toward simplification.

2. Confirm all appointments to avoid dead time.

3. Think geographically to avoid excessive travel time.

4. Plan out each day in advance, and fill your schedule with the highest value items.

5. Handle both paper and email only once.

6. Structure your telephone time.

7. Schedule appointments with yourself to work on high-priority projects.

8. Cut each meeting by one third of the time. An hour-long meeting will now be 40 minutes.

9. Conduct standing meetings.

10. Delegate between 10-20% of your list to an appropriate person.

Extra credit: you can download my Time Management Strategies and Tactics workbook at:

http://www.dempcoaching.com/download-your-free-workbooks

Enter the password barrydemp to access the page. If you have any difficulties, please email me at barry@dempcoaching.com and I will send you the workbook.