Comments on: How to Avoid Overwhelm

By: Samantha Hartley

Samantha Hartley — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:36:04 +0000

Joyce, thanks so much sharing your top movitators. I too find I just can’t do it if it hasn’t worked or I don’t love it.

You’ve added two great questions there at the end, which I don’t think anyone (but an insightful coach) ever asks, “Why are you doing it?” Because you think you should? Because we always have? Because we don’t know what would happen if we stopped?

“Who are you doing it for?” The clients who really appreciate you or the ones who are never satisfied? A disapproving teacher or parent?

Thanks for contributing to the discussion, Joyce. Hope to see you here again :)

By: Joyce Shafer, Life Coach and Author

Joyce Shafer, Life Coach and Author — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:27:41 +0000

Samantha, I loved this post! My top three motivators and guides for 2010 are–*Mike Litman’s quote: You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going (does this put a halt to procrastination!) *Your quote: If it doesn’t work for you, stop doing it (and I apply this at the outer and inner levels–it really can’t be only about outcomes–fun, fulfillment, and service that matters to you and those you serve make a huge difference for all involved!) *The Pareto Principle: 20% of what you do creates 80% of your success. So, figure out what this is and apply 80% of time and energy (and enthusiasm!) to that 20%–and be flexible. This 20% will change as you grow and evolve. Over and under all of this is: If it’s not fun and/or fulfilling, and you are not passionately committed to what you’re doing, why are you doing it (or who are you doing it for)?

By: Samantha Hartley

Samantha Hartley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:52:37 +0000

Hi Emiko. A theme song? I love it! Whatever keeps you aligned and focused is cool. Turtle step. hehe

By: Samantha Hartley

Samantha Hartley — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:51:02 +0000

Paul, conflicting priorities is a great way to put it. I find conflicting values a problem too – which do you want more, and which is more valuable to you. I’m glad you’ve found a system that works for you. Good luck with that 120 thing. ;-)

By: Emiko Jaffe

Emiko Jaffe — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:33:40 +0000

I love “time optimist” that is me! As a high quickstart and abysmally low follow through (according to the Kolbe index) I tend to be allergic to organization systems, however, I’m using all the follow through I have and implementing a system where I create a quarterly wish list of projects I want to accomplish for each of those months, then take the current month and create a priority list for the current week and that’s broken down into a very manageable daily list–whatever doesn’t get done today gets bumped into tomorrow. It helps me prioritize and get things done. But I also keep it flexible by allowing myself to change stuff around at a moment’s notice–my quickstart self thrives on risk-taking and improvisation :-) Also, I’ve picked a theme song for 2010 so whenever I feel overwhelmed or unsure about something I can ask myself “does taking this next step feel like my theme song?” if no, I drop it, if yes, I turtle step my way to building my Rome.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:20:25 +0000

Hey Samantha
From a whole bunch of recent experience, I’ve noticed that overwhelm is a result of to many conflicting priorities, so what I’ve learned / learning to do is ‘back to planning’, establish what is important and then do that (with the whole 1 step at a time thing)

More than than I have found that using a system (whatever works for you) that takes projects from project schedules to weekly schedules and ends up as daily tasks helps beyond compare.

Curious :-) I am becoming more and more curious about social media, oh and also living until I’m 120 – so many things to do and see and eat …
Later
Paul F