Cairn - January 2008 - Preparing For Success
Published: Tue, 01/08/08
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Cairn One Step At A Time |
January 2007
Issue 45
clare evans |
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personal & business coach | ||
Welcome to all new subscribers since last month and a very Happy New Year to you all.
Not that I'm feeling particularly brilliant at the moment. I finally went down with flu over the weekend. I say finally because I'd managed to avoid it over Christmas and New Year although both my parents had flu over Christmas and several friends had been stricken with the bug on or around Christmas.
I write this from my 'sofa of sickness' between occasional bouts of coughing - sounding not unlike a 50-a-day smoker and sneezing fits. At least today I feel marginally better than I did over the weekend and will concentrate on keeping warm, resting and drinking plenty of fluids.
One of the disadvantages of working for yourself is that it's not so easy to take time off 'sick' when you're not getting sick pay. There's the temptation to keep working regardless. You'll get more stressed out and you'll probably make more mistakes if you're under par. If you're not feeling 100% - acknowledge this.
Set yourself small goals and aim to tackle one or two things at a time. If you can take time out then give yourself a complete break. What is so important that it can't wait a few days? Cancel any appointments and clear your diary. People will understand, after all, we all get sick at some point. If you do feel the need to work - stick to the important things, don't work a full day and stop when you've had enough.
If you run your own business, what would you do if you had to take time off? Do you have someone who can handle all or part of your business when you're not there? Put together basic procedures about how your business runs from day to day. You can then either delegate regular tasks or someone can pick up and run things in your absence.
You can catch up on the rest of what I've been up to in my blog - http://www.clareevans.blogspot.com.
Enjoy the rest of this newsletter. It's a slightly shorter version this month as I'm streamlining the layout.
- Preparing For Success
- What On, What's New
Preparing For Success
How many of you set New Year Resolutions? How many of you actually manage to keep to them? I think that's almost part of the tradition of the New Year Resolution is that along with the smoking, drinking, chocolate or whatever you've decided to 'give up', you've also given up the resolution itself by about February or March.
Resolutions often relate to something personal, whereas goals can relate to any area of our life. They're really one and the same - a desire to achieve a specific result.
The television adverts immediately after Christmas show where most people are focusing. Giving up smoking and losing weight are favourites. One of my goals, losing a few pounds, is rapidly being achieved but only because I've had no appetite for the last few days. I was planning to increase the exercise and cut out the biscuits but a bout of flu works just as well.
Most people focus on the negative side of 'going on a diet' or watch the scales too closely then get disappointed and frustrated when they slip up or don't lose as much as they want. Think about being fit and healthy for the person you are. Few of us are ever going to be able to look like Kate Moss. Having a healthy, balanced diet is a far better goal to aim for. Look at what you will have and how good you'll feel once you are healthy and what you are losing by no longer being unfit and overweight. By all means measure this goal by checking your weight but this doesn't have to be the only measure.
Don't spend out large sums of money on a gym membership with great enthusiasm at the beginning of the year, only to give up as Spring arrives. Find a way of exercising that you enjoy - it doesn't have to mean joining a gym. There are plenty of classes available for everything from dancing to yoga. Swimming and walking are great for all round exercise and there are plenty of other ways to increase your activity in each day. Take a look at my article on sensible exercise for ideas.
Resolutions often fail because they're a half-hearted attempt to change something without really understanding the reasons and motivation behind them. People tend to be too general which is why they've usually given up on them by February. New habits take time to adopt - so if you've spent a lifetime smoking, eating biscuits, consuming processed foods and rarely getting any exercise - don't expect to have changed all this in just two short months.
Understanding the reasons for wanting the change and more importantly the reasons why we so often fail, will increase the chances of being successful.
* Write them down. Putting pen to paper makes it more real and takes it one stage further from just floating around in your head as an idea or intention.
* Be specific about what it is you really want. You want to lose weight. You want to get fit. You want to stop smoking .... Why? What's your underlying motivation, what's the real reason behind your resolution? Make it specific and put a deadline against it.
* Talk it through with someone else. You'll get a different perspective and a balanced viewpoint. Talking it through with someone who know you but doesn't have a biased viewpoint will help to understand what's really important.
* Be realistic and focus on what you want, not what you don't want. Focus on the positives of having lost weight, got fit, stopped smoking not what you're giving up.
* What's going to stop you? Even with the best of intentions there are always things that are going to get in our way - to stop us from achieving our resolution and goals, if we let them. Plan for the excuses, blocks, distractions, lack of motivation and inaction.
* What do you need? Do you have everything in place to achieve the desired result?
* If you go off track, don't give up, adjust, modify and get back on track. Rarely is the path direct and smooth but if you know where you going it's easier to see when you get diverted, look at the reasons why and then get back on track.
Set a resolution this year that you will actually achieve - change just one thing.
Use the same process for your goals for the year. I've put together an Annual Review which you can download from my website. It's a good starting point for what you want to achieve this year.
If you're really serious about achieving your goals, the additional motivation and accountability of the Kick Start Package could make all the difference. If you just want to have a chat about your goals for 2008, give me a call or send an email to info@clareevans.co.uk
What's On, What's New
Up-coming teleclasses, workshops:
Teleclass: Get Control of Your Money - Would you like to be organised in managing your money? Discover a few simple ways to save your pennies and start making your money work for you. Register for the Money Management Teleclass on Tuesday 22nd January.
Teleclass: Get Control of Your Time - Goal Setting A specific teleclass to focus on creating your goals for the year. What do you want to achieve in the next six months? Get motivated and create some accountability. Register for the Time Management Teleclass on Tuesday 29th January.
Kick Start/Get Into Action Packages - if you'd like a great start to the new year - why not try one of my Kick Start packages. Created to give you a short burst of motivation and accountability - whether you want to get fit, lose weight (all those good new years resolutions) or just work on your business.
Monthly/Quarterly Reviews - These have proved a popular way of keeping on track. A regular session once a month or every quarter to review your business or personal goals. Talk through particular challenges or issues, brainstorm ideas, create an action plan and accountability. Contact me for further details.
Special New Year Offer - If you're feeling the pinch after Christmas, reduce those credit card bills and save money - More Month Than Money E-course - now less than £20.
If you were forwarded this issue of the newsletter you can register to receive your own copy each month by sending a blank email to claresnews@aweber.com. If you want to stop receiving these then just click the link at the bottom of this email.
Here's to a great 2008 for all of us.
Until next month - stay healthy and avoid the flu.
Clare
Clare Evans - Personal and Business Time Management Coach
Phone: +44 (0)1273 588297
Email: info@clareevans.co.uk
Website: www.clareevans.co.uk
Get organised! Get a new perspective!
Not that I'm feeling particularly brilliant at the moment. I finally went down with flu over the weekend. I say finally because I'd managed to avoid it over Christmas and New Year although both my parents had flu over Christmas and several friends had been stricken with the bug on or around Christmas.
I write this from my 'sofa of sickness' between occasional bouts of coughing - sounding not unlike a 50-a-day smoker and sneezing fits. At least today I feel marginally better than I did over the weekend and will concentrate on keeping warm, resting and drinking plenty of fluids.
One of the disadvantages of working for yourself is that it's not so easy to take time off 'sick' when you're not getting sick pay. There's the temptation to keep working regardless. You'll get more stressed out and you'll probably make more mistakes if you're under par. If you're not feeling 100% - acknowledge this.
Set yourself small goals and aim to tackle one or two things at a time. If you can take time out then give yourself a complete break. What is so important that it can't wait a few days? Cancel any appointments and clear your diary. People will understand, after all, we all get sick at some point. If you do feel the need to work - stick to the important things, don't work a full day and stop when you've had enough.
If you run your own business, what would you do if you had to take time off? Do you have someone who can handle all or part of your business when you're not there? Put together basic procedures about how your business runs from day to day. You can then either delegate regular tasks or someone can pick up and run things in your absence.
You can catch up on the rest of what I've been up to in my blog - http://www.clareevans.blogspot.com.
Enjoy the rest of this newsletter. It's a slightly shorter version this month as I'm streamlining the layout.
- Preparing For Success
- What On, What's New
Preparing For Success
How many of you set New Year Resolutions? How many of you actually manage to keep to them? I think that's almost part of the tradition of the New Year Resolution is that along with the smoking, drinking, chocolate or whatever you've decided to 'give up', you've also given up the resolution itself by about February or March.
Resolutions often relate to something personal, whereas goals can relate to any area of our life. They're really one and the same - a desire to achieve a specific result.
The television adverts immediately after Christmas show where most people are focusing. Giving up smoking and losing weight are favourites. One of my goals, losing a few pounds, is rapidly being achieved but only because I've had no appetite for the last few days. I was planning to increase the exercise and cut out the biscuits but a bout of flu works just as well.
Most people focus on the negative side of 'going on a diet' or watch the scales too closely then get disappointed and frustrated when they slip up or don't lose as much as they want. Think about being fit and healthy for the person you are. Few of us are ever going to be able to look like Kate Moss. Having a healthy, balanced diet is a far better goal to aim for. Look at what you will have and how good you'll feel once you are healthy and what you are losing by no longer being unfit and overweight. By all means measure this goal by checking your weight but this doesn't have to be the only measure.
Don't spend out large sums of money on a gym membership with great enthusiasm at the beginning of the year, only to give up as Spring arrives. Find a way of exercising that you enjoy - it doesn't have to mean joining a gym. There are plenty of classes available for everything from dancing to yoga. Swimming and walking are great for all round exercise and there are plenty of other ways to increase your activity in each day. Take a look at my article on sensible exercise for ideas.
Resolutions often fail because they're a half-hearted attempt to change something without really understanding the reasons and motivation behind them. People tend to be too general which is why they've usually given up on them by February. New habits take time to adopt - so if you've spent a lifetime smoking, eating biscuits, consuming processed foods and rarely getting any exercise - don't expect to have changed all this in just two short months.
Understanding the reasons for wanting the change and more importantly the reasons why we so often fail, will increase the chances of being successful.
* Write them down. Putting pen to paper makes it more real and takes it one stage further from just floating around in your head as an idea or intention.
* Be specific about what it is you really want. You want to lose weight. You want to get fit. You want to stop smoking .... Why? What's your underlying motivation, what's the real reason behind your resolution? Make it specific and put a deadline against it.
* Talk it through with someone else. You'll get a different perspective and a balanced viewpoint. Talking it through with someone who know you but doesn't have a biased viewpoint will help to understand what's really important.
* Be realistic and focus on what you want, not what you don't want. Focus on the positives of having lost weight, got fit, stopped smoking not what you're giving up.
* What's going to stop you? Even with the best of intentions there are always things that are going to get in our way - to stop us from achieving our resolution and goals, if we let them. Plan for the excuses, blocks, distractions, lack of motivation and inaction.
* What do you need? Do you have everything in place to achieve the desired result?
* If you go off track, don't give up, adjust, modify and get back on track. Rarely is the path direct and smooth but if you know where you going it's easier to see when you get diverted, look at the reasons why and then get back on track.
Set a resolution this year that you will actually achieve - change just one thing.
Use the same process for your goals for the year. I've put together an Annual Review which you can download from my website. It's a good starting point for what you want to achieve this year.
If you're really serious about achieving your goals, the additional motivation and accountability of the Kick Start Package could make all the difference. If you just want to have a chat about your goals for 2008, give me a call or send an email to info@clareevans.co.uk
What's On, What's New
Up-coming teleclasses, workshops:
Teleclass: Get Control of Your Money - Would you like to be organised in managing your money? Discover a few simple ways to save your pennies and start making your money work for you. Register for the Money Management Teleclass on Tuesday 22nd January.
Teleclass: Get Control of Your Time - Goal Setting A specific teleclass to focus on creating your goals for the year. What do you want to achieve in the next six months? Get motivated and create some accountability. Register for the Time Management Teleclass on Tuesday 29th January.
Kick Start/Get Into Action Packages - if you'd like a great start to the new year - why not try one of my Kick Start packages. Created to give you a short burst of motivation and accountability - whether you want to get fit, lose weight (all those good new years resolutions) or just work on your business.
Monthly/Quarterly Reviews - These have proved a popular way of keeping on track. A regular session once a month or every quarter to review your business or personal goals. Talk through particular challenges or issues, brainstorm ideas, create an action plan and accountability. Contact me for further details.
Special New Year Offer - If you're feeling the pinch after Christmas, reduce those credit card bills and save money - More Month Than Money E-course - now less than £20.
If you were forwarded this issue of the newsletter you can register to receive your own copy each month by sending a blank email to claresnews@aweber.com. If you want to stop receiving these then just click the link at the bottom of this email.
Here's to a great 2008 for all of us.
Until next month - stay healthy and avoid the flu.
Clare
Clare Evans - Personal and Business Time Management Coach
Phone: +44 (0)1273 588297
Email: info@clareevans.co.uk
Website: www.clareevans.co.uk
Get organised! Get a new perspective!
Copyright: Clare Evans Personal & Business Coaching © 2008
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