How Do We Do It All? Not Forego Ourselves and Our Health? And... Not Feel Guilty?

Good Morning!

WOW! That title is a mouthful if I say so myself! I think this post might be for me a lot more than it might be for some of you who really have it together! You see, when I train and present to other educators, I have to immediately give them this disclaimer if you will.... I share with them that my mind whirls in thousands of directions which might sound appetizing to you; however, it's not at times I assure you! So, having an educational background, and more specifically knowing I am a right brain by heart and also knowing "I'm a squiggle..." (more on that because you have to figure out what shape personality you are too...) okay, so knowing these different things and then here comes the kicker... I am so ADHD wired for 220 voltage most all of the time. I know those of you who know me are laughing right now because you are saying, "Well, that explains it... I can see that for sure LOL." Nevertheless, of course, it gives me creative energy; however, it can also make me so frustrated and it's number one cousin is that word called, PROCRASTINATION! Ugh! I hate that word -- don't you? Well, I found a couple of tools this morning that may help us with this "bad to the bone" word and I am hoping that some of you may have some tools as well! One thing that I think that may help if this is a "bad word" to you too is to become more self-aware of yourself -- meaning -- know if you are functioning more with your (1) right brain hemisphere or your left brain hemisphere (see earlier post -- I included a link for you to be able to determine this!); and (2) determine your "shape personality."  You will love doing this and don't cheat! Here is what you need to do. Look at the shapes that I have included below and without knowing any other instructions, pick the shape that you think best resembles your personality! GO! Don't cheat! Here are the shapes:

Here is your link! Again, don't click on this link UNTIL YOU DECIDE! Also, some will refer to the last shape as a zigzag and some will refer to it as a squiggle! http://www.learning-mind.com/geometric-shapes-simple-and-unusual-personality-test/

I told you! It's fun! I use it all the time when working with different groups of adults in training sessions! So, now let's move on to some steps that might be helpful to us (me namely for sure) that might help us beat "PROCRASTINATION!" Here we go...

(Step 1:) Stop in the name of love and recognize that in fact you are in procrastination mode! So, I have a link here for you as well to help you better define procrastination -- of course, if your like me, I know when I am there i just don't like to admit it LOL but here's the link: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_99.htm Try it and see if it confirms what you were thinking. Okay, yes I scored a 29 and confirmed what I have stated to you thus far -- now what??

(Step 2:)  Reflect and try to figure out what's the deal? Just why in the world are you procrastinating? Is the task unpleasant? Are you disorganized (that's a whole other story for me...)? Are  you honestly overwhelmed by the task itself and can't figure out where to start? Decide where you stand!

(Step 3:) Adopt a set of strategies that you can put into motion that will help you tame or beat procrastination... your thinking... "yea, I would have already done that if I knew what they might be..." Okay, what might these strategies be: (1) Reward yourself ever so slightly for getting started on the task and/or completing the task; (2) Have someone be your accountability partner-- someone who knows that you might fuss when they ask you, "How's it coming?" Someone whom you know you don't have to have your guard up -- they will truly help you! (3) Identify why this task is unpleasant; make a list and look at this list! (4) Think about your "cost of time" to your employer... shame shame; (5) Promise yourself on a daily basis to eat the elephant first meaning tackle the big things first thing in the morning; (6) Use Einstein's Urgent/Important Principle (you have seen this in a previous blog post); (7) Make an old-fashioned "To-Do" list; (8) Get you a planner that allows you to look at a month at a time and then a day at a time -- work on mapping projects out that allow you ample time to have success; (8) Set goals in your planner and then put these aforementioned strategies into place to make them happen girlfriend!

I have included an image of the Einstein's Urgent/Important Principle to jog your memory! I will create you a printable of one of these quadrants for you to use as your "To-Do" list!

Einstein's Urgent/Important Principle
Time Management Quadrants

So, calling all Superwomen, here's your homework: (1) Right brain/left brain? (2) Shape personality? (3) Procrastinator? (4) Strategies that you find beneficial -- PUT THEM IN PLACE!

Stay tuned for a *FREE PRINTABLE* for your time management quadrants for a "To-Do" List!

Have a great Monday and be your best Superwom@n!

Terri

Source of Information: www.mindtools.com

Calling All Superwomen... How Often Do You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/beyond-comfort-zone-independent-thinking-judy-willis

On this cold morning, the day before Valentine's Day, as I open my little journal that I shared with you when we first started this journey blogging about what we do as superwomen, I open to this particular topic and page... Go Outside Your Comfort Zone! WOW! That says a mouthful. It also had a great info-graphic which honestly being such a visual learner, I relate to this much better than just an explanation. Professionally, what is your comfort zone? I decided to be somewhat vulnerable and map mine out and then use those parameters of my "not so comfort zone places" as opportunities to grow my superwom@n abilities! Why should we engage in this task? I think this visual probably explains it better than I can in words:

This graphic says it all... this is why it is vital that we all engage in this endeavor!

So here we go! We are going to take this four levels and I will use myself as an example. The first level is that of your comfort zone itself. So, what are you comfortable with doing professionally that you know that you do well and do not experience a lot of anxieties. I would say for me that is (1) doing large scale trainings on educational topics that I have spent a long time studying; (2) teaching courses to undergraduate and graduate education students; and (3) working with kids of all ages! Now, the next level (we are traveling now... outside that comfort zone) is that of "what you are willing to try professionally." For me, I would say that is: (1) blogging professionally; (2) creating and publishing e-books to complement training sessions; and (3) creating additional resources that are helpful and useful to teachers. Now, this brings us to the third level. The third level is that of "reluctant to try." Again, for me, I would state the following: (1) creating webinars for on-line training so that teachers can earn CEU's from the comfort of home and not be in such a hurry; (2) on-line coaching again for teaching in some area that thy deem necessary to become better; and (3) how to make blogs more professionally done (I am sooooo struggling here... almost to the point of avoiding the learning curve LOL). Finally, the final level is that of what is "terrifying" to you to try professionally? For me, I want to write a book, in fact, I have started but that's all I have done is start. I already think about the fear of rejection and I am no where ready to send it anywhere for someone else to even think about reading. Honestly, I think I just want to pay the extra money and publish it myself! So, I may have a solution to this terrifying goal that I would love to accomplish. Now, ya'll are going to laugh at me but the other thing that terrifies me at this very moment is my darn Silhouette Cameo that I want to perfect soooooo bad! I see these precious projects that everyone makes, and I want to learn how as well. But, on some of the projects, I am almost scared to try because I don't want to make a mess of something LOL so I have got to get busy to get over this hump! Now, enough of me, I wanted to spell out my "out of comfort zone" levels so that you would hopefully take the time to do yours this weekend-- then get out your planner and promise yourself to carve out time for addressing these! You will be glad that you did! I have included below some graphics and links for you to look at if your interested on getting out of your comfort zone. BTW, I will be more faithful to our Superwom@n blog... I have been trying to work on another one that is my own domain and hosted by another service that I can do more with which is also out of my comfort zone and way frustrating LOL.

http://www.angelfire.com/bug/brownjay/courage.htm

Try your best to work through this activity-- I think that you will be glad that you did!

 Have an awesome Saturday all of you Superwomen!

Terri