|
December 2006 - Edition 2
Latest News About Recovering Workaholics.
Written and published by Gina Gardiner
Please visit our website www.recoveringworkaholics.com
Welcome to this our second newsletter for
Recovering Workaholics.
Firstly I would like to thank you for signing up for the
newsletter which is published on a monthly basis.
Create A Life You Love - Change Your Life
Achieve Health, Happiness and Fulfilment!
I’m so please to be able to announce that we have finalized
the venue for the London based course due to begin in January
2007. It will take place at Finwell House, 26 Finsbury Square,
London EC2 A1SH
Make it your New Year’s resolution to create a life
you truly love.
Join us at 6.30 for a 6.45 start every Tuesday evening for
12 weeks beginning on January 30th. Details on request.
Media Interest
Interest in Recovering Workaholics continues. I have received
calls from The Wall Street Journal Network and another TV
Production Company in the last few days and an article is
due to appear in Bella Magazine in the New Year.
I was very pleased to receive a copy of “Global People”
Beijing with an article in it about Recovering Workaholics
– at least that’s what I’m told it is about.
My Chinese is limited to ordering numbers off a menu I’m
afraid.
Article – Time Is A Finite Commodity –
Do You Have Enough?
I am always struck how often we hear about the same theme
in several different contexts. I have been amazed how often
the theme of time has come up this week.
Several clients have chosen to focus their session on their
lack of time and the negative impact this has on their lives
this month – no surprise there you might say. Ask most
people about their lives and they will tell you that they
never have enough time.
Modern technology was supposed to free us all up for a life
of leisure and yet so many people are rushing about chasing
their tails. With all the labour saving gadgets and convenience
foods, dishwashers, microwaves, computers and faster modes
of transport we seem to have less time than ever to spend
with loved ones, to learn and read and simply to reflect.
One has to ask why?
I was on a course recently where I was really struck by one
session with the theme of time. Ian Mc Dermot the course leader
asked us to think about the way we use our time. We were reminded
that each day has 24 hours, which gives us 168 hours in a
week, 8736 hours in a year. In life time of 70 years we have
613200 hours to use. Sounds quite a lot doesn’t it.
We were given a table of the number of hours in a life time
of varying lengths. For example if you live to 100 you have
876,000 hours to spend. In fact the table went up to age 120
just so we wouldn’t self limit!
Just think about the time you have – you can use it
once and once only.
You might think that spend is a strange word to use but we
all make choices about how we spend our time, for most of
us these choices are made at an unconscious level and the
result is not always as we would wish it to be. We also choose
how to spend our money and expend our energy.
Now consider your life time and how you have chosen to spend
your time so far. Have you truly made the most of your time?
Do you want to go on using your time in the same way in the
future?
You may find it useful to complete the chart –give
a ball park figure rather than getting bogged down. I’ve
put in some headings but use the ones you find appropriate
and add any of your own. (Assume a life time of 70 years for
this exercise.)
Activity |
Hrs per week |
Hrs per year |
Hrs per Lifetime |
| Work |
|
|
|
| Sleep |
|
|
|
| Commuting |
|
|
|
| Eating |
|
|
|
| Food shopping |
|
|
|
| Cooking |
|
|
|
| Personal care |
|
|
|
| Laundry |
|
|
|
| Exercise |
|
|
|
| Family |
|
|
|
| Relationships |
|
|
|
| Fun |
|
|
|
| Learning |
|
|
|
| Watching TV |
|
|
|
| Personal admin – phone calls letters,
forms etc |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
What do you notice?
- Was the result what you expected?
- Do you actively choose how you spend your time?
- Does the way you spend your time make you happy?
- How would you like to spend your time in the future?
- What needs to change if you are to spend your time doing
the things you value most?
Now look forward into the future to the end of your life.
- Look back over those years and consider how you would
like to be remembered?
- What legacy would you like to leave?
Managing time is about prioritizing and making choices. It
often requires us to create boundaries or to learn to say
no – to others and maybe to ourselves.
Even a small change can make a significant difference to
the quality of your life – what change could you make
today which would make a difference to the quality of your
life over time?
**********
Organizations
It would seem that organizations are beginning to understand
the need to change their culture - to work smarter rather
than longer. More and more people are facing the impact of
having a poor work life balance, resulting in burn out and
stress. If staff are too busy reacting to the demands placed
upon them it becomes impossible to think strategically, to
be proactive and anticipate needs. Productivity is reduced,
job satisfaction becomes less and stress levels go through
the roof leading to absenteeism and loss of performance.
We ran a very successful session for the Marketing Team at
the Head Office of one of the High Street Banks in November.
The session focused on effective and efficient ways of working.
In this first session the team created strategies for ensuring
that they manage other people’s unrealistic expectations,
meetings and emails and they have identified lots of ideas
for impacting positively on others within the organization
which will be the focus for the coming months.
The feedback has been great. The team feels more together
and in control of their diaries, they are feeling energized
and enthusiastic.
A really productive afternoon.
*******
Recommended Read
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen
R. Covey
This book looks at using your time in line with your values
and so much more. It stands alone but is even more effective
if you have read his book “The Seven Habits of Highly
Effective People”
I use a modified form of his time planning sheet as do several
of my clients. We all find it incredibly helpful.
********
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If there are any topics
you would like covered in future issues please let me know
on info@recoveringworkaholics.com
I received an email this week from Fred who has signed up
to the Recovering Workaholic Newsletter.
He asked “Why is it that some activities seem to be
able to stretch time so time seems irrelevant. I often find
myself lost in an activity that is so totally absorbing that
I lose track of time and “it doesn't matter" I
have enjoyed the activity and accomplished well ..just like
those times when as children summer days seemed endless and
we never wanted them to end.
where as other activities seem to reduce time and the clock
is always ticking and there is always something else to fit
into a limited amount of time...???
How do we get back control of time as we did as children???”
What do you think?
********
In the meanwhile plans are going ahead to run the 12 week
course – “Create A Life You Love” in 2 locations
in the New Year, one in central London and the other in Essex.
I hope these will be the first of many World wide. Details
of the venue and prices are currently being finalised. If
you are interested in knowing more or wish to secure a place
please visit the website on www.recoveringworkaholics.com/courses.php
to review the courses.
Each month the news letter will contain an article and some
recommended reading or listening. The theme is very much about
supporting you to create a life with a great work life balance.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. If there are any topics
you would like covered in future issues please let me know
on info@recoveringworkaholics.com
Warmest wishes,
Gina Gardiner
********
Creating a good work life balance is vital for long term
health, wellbeing and happiness.
If you would like support to achieve this, visit
www.recoveringworkaholics.com
For any further information or to discuss your coaching needs
contact info@recoveringworkaholics.com
or phone 01708 703959
Gina Gardiner, recognized by Investors In People as creating
an "innovative and exemplary training programme for emerging
and middle managers" and by Ofsted as an “inspirational
leader”. Her experience includes that of “Change
Management” and in supporting organizational leaders
in developing strategic vision and creating a “can do”
culture.
If you aren't a subscriber already, please sign up to receive
the next issue of the free monthly Recovering Workaholics
newsletter at www.recoveringworkaholics.com/freemonthlynewsletter.php.
You may copy or distribute this newsletter, provided that
full credit is given and copyright information is included.
Copyright notice
Author : Gina Gardiner
For any further information or advice about Recovering Workaholics
contact info@recoveringworkaholics.com
or phone 01708 703959
|
