Cairn - July 2008 - Guilt Free Holidays
Published: Tue, 07/08/08
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Cairn One Step At A Time |
July 2008
Issue 51
clare evans |
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personal & business coach | ||
Welcome to all new subscribers since last month.
Well, so much for the weather improving - the last few days have been exceptionally wet and windy in what's meant to be the middle of the British Summer. As I write this the rain is lashing against the window, brightening up for a few minutes than another shower comes over.
A couple of weeks ago, I got all the Chapters back from the publishers with the edits for approval. Another busy weekend and they've all been updated, amended and necessary additions made and they're back with the publisher for the next stage. I've created a Group on Facebook for the book, so if you're into social networking sites, come along and join.
It's been a busy month with seminars and workshops and attending the first Peacehaven Business Showcase. Now Peacehaven isn't the most buzzing of places, like nearby Brighton but it does have a very active Business Chamber and something like 250 businesses in the area, so there was certainly plenty of scope and many of us pass business between each other. There was a great buzz at the show and although only a couple of hundred visitors on the day it was a great success and all the 30 or so stall holders felt it was worthwhile, including me. Especially as it was the first place to showcase the book and run a prize draw for a signed copy with nearly 70 people signing up for my newsletter - hello to you, if you were one of those.
The website is undergoing a bit of a make-over. First stage has been completed with some subtle differences (see if you can spot them) and a few more tweaks over the next couple of months but nothing too dramatic. There'll still be plenty of information and resources up there. Look out for the special offer on my time management teleclasses (see What's On below).
You can catch up with the rest of what I've been up to and keep up-to-date through my blog - http://www.clareevans.blogspot.com or Follow Me on Twitter.
Enjoy the rest of this newsletter.
Guilt Free Holidays
It's coming up to that holiday time of year when in the next couple of months, most people will be looking forward to their annual two week holiday.
It's also a time of year when things get busier and you're more likely to be stressed (and in need of a break). Not only are you preparing to go away and busily trying to cram two weeks work into two days but because your colleagues are also likely to be away you could end up with more work to do, especially if they haven't planned ahead and left unfinished work for someone else to pick up.
Make sure you're in a position to wind down before your holiday with time to finish all your tasks. How many of you end up having to work long hours in the week before you go away, just to clear the decks before you go or end up being given last minute jobs which somehow you have to fit in as well as everything else, because people suddenly realise you're going to be away and they want things done before you go?
Wouldn't you rather be better organised in the first place so you can actually go on holiday without collapsing on the plane or in the car - exhausted before you start and then taking the first week just to recover or feeling guilty about everything you didn't get finished?
Be realistic about what you can achieve in the week before you go. Write out everything you need to do so you have a sense of the amount of work involved and can then plan it better. Do the important tasks first and don't waste time on things that can wait until your return or be done by someone else.
And don't even think about going away and taking your work with you. OK, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. You need the break to unwind and relax - especially if you've been busy at work, so taking your phone and laptop with you just so you can catch up or keep on top of things isn't the best solution.
You might feel your business will fall apart or your office won't be able to function without you if you're not in touch for a few days but is that really the case or an unfounded fear? If it's the former then you really need to do something to change it ... now!
Even if it's your own business you can still take a break without worrying about business, it just takes careful planning. Let people know in advance when you're going away and plan work round your holiday time.
Make this year the year you go away on holiday having completed all your tasks in good time. Leave your laptop and office phone at home and really enjoy the break. Don't feel guilty or stressed by what might or might not be happening back at the office.
If you would like to have more time in your day, increase your effectiveness and be more productive, give me a call, send an email to info@clareevans.co.uk or sign-up for one of my Friday Focus sessions.
What's On, What's New
Up-coming teleclasses, workshops ... book!
Friday Focus - A free 30 minute focused session to discuss your specific challenges, objectives and goals for 2008, get a sounding board for your ideas, increase your motivation and create accountability. Call or email to arrange a date and time.
Teleclass: Get Control of your Time A series of teleclass on the more common challenges facing busy people today. Goal setting, planning, email, paperwork and procrastination. Join a one-hour call, once a month on a Tuesday lunchtime.
Don't have time to attend? You can still register for the call and you'll receive the notes and free Weekly Time Tips - next call on Tuesday 22nd July.
Sign-up for all six calls for only £49.95 or £9.99 each.
Mums In Biz - Business start up seminars focusing directly on issues affecting busy mums. Providing answers to planning, marketing, time management, fun and inspiration with the ultimate aim of helping them to establish and grow a business in tandem with motherhood!
The next one is being held in Brighton on Tuesday 9th September.
Integrity/Focus Day - Thursday 24th July 10am - 4pm. Strictly limited to 6 places. Contact me for details.
Time Management For Dummies Available for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk - published in September.
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 know anyone who would benefit from some of the advice and information, please forward it on to them. If you'd rather not receive my monthly newsletter, just click the link at the bottom of this email.
Until next month,
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
----------
Create your own automated newsletters with Aweber. E-mail follow up, ad tracking, & real-time stats for your emails. http://www.aweber.com/features.htm?207782
----------
Well, so much for the weather improving - the last few days have been exceptionally wet and windy in what's meant to be the middle of the British Summer. As I write this the rain is lashing against the window, brightening up for a few minutes than another shower comes over.
A couple of weeks ago, I got all the Chapters back from the publishers with the edits for approval. Another busy weekend and they've all been updated, amended and necessary additions made and they're back with the publisher for the next stage. I've created a Group on Facebook for the book, so if you're into social networking sites, come along and join.
It's been a busy month with seminars and workshops and attending the first Peacehaven Business Showcase. Now Peacehaven isn't the most buzzing of places, like nearby Brighton but it does have a very active Business Chamber and something like 250 businesses in the area, so there was certainly plenty of scope and many of us pass business between each other. There was a great buzz at the show and although only a couple of hundred visitors on the day it was a great success and all the 30 or so stall holders felt it was worthwhile, including me. Especially as it was the first place to showcase the book and run a prize draw for a signed copy with nearly 70 people signing up for my newsletter - hello to you, if you were one of those.
The website is undergoing a bit of a make-over. First stage has been completed with some subtle differences (see if you can spot them) and a few more tweaks over the next couple of months but nothing too dramatic. There'll still be plenty of information and resources up there. Look out for the special offer on my time management teleclasses (see What's On below).
You can catch up with the rest of what I've been up to and keep up-to-date through my blog - http://www.clareevans.blogspot.com or Follow Me on Twitter.
Enjoy the rest of this newsletter.
Guilt Free Holidays
It's coming up to that holiday time of year when in the next couple of months, most people will be looking forward to their annual two week holiday.
It's also a time of year when things get busier and you're more likely to be stressed (and in need of a break). Not only are you preparing to go away and busily trying to cram two weeks work into two days but because your colleagues are also likely to be away you could end up with more work to do, especially if they haven't planned ahead and left unfinished work for someone else to pick up.
Make sure you're in a position to wind down before your holiday with time to finish all your tasks. How many of you end up having to work long hours in the week before you go away, just to clear the decks before you go or end up being given last minute jobs which somehow you have to fit in as well as everything else, because people suddenly realise you're going to be away and they want things done before you go?
Wouldn't you rather be better organised in the first place so you can actually go on holiday without collapsing on the plane or in the car - exhausted before you start and then taking the first week just to recover or feeling guilty about everything you didn't get finished?
Be realistic about what you can achieve in the week before you go. Write out everything you need to do so you have a sense of the amount of work involved and can then plan it better. Do the important tasks first and don't waste time on things that can wait until your return or be done by someone else.
- Hand over work to a colleague if that's practical. This is where having the regular tasks documented can help - it makes it easier to hand over and for other people to know what's going on when you're not around. - steps to take, who to contact, where files/forms etc are.
- If you work for yourself - why not redirect your phone calls to an answering service (real person answers the phone) while you're away.
- Don't forget to update your voicemail message and set up an auto responder for your email to let people know you're away and an alternate contact.
- If you don't want to be inundated with unnecessary emails from your online networking groups - switch off any email notifications before you go, as you certainly won't have to time to catch up with all those messages and it's unlikely any of them will be that important.
And don't even think about going away and taking your work with you. OK, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. You need the break to unwind and relax - especially if you've been busy at work, so taking your phone and laptop with you just so you can catch up or keep on top of things isn't the best solution.
You might feel your business will fall apart or your office won't be able to function without you if you're not in touch for a few days but is that really the case or an unfounded fear? If it's the former then you really need to do something to change it ... now!
Even if it's your own business you can still take a break without worrying about business, it just takes careful planning. Let people know in advance when you're going away and plan work round your holiday time.
Make this year the year you go away on holiday having completed all your tasks in good time. Leave your laptop and office phone at home and really enjoy the break. Don't feel guilty or stressed by what might or might not be happening back at the office.
If you would like to have more time in your day, increase your effectiveness and be more productive, give me a call, send an email to info@clareevans.co.uk or sign-up for one of my Friday Focus sessions.
What's On, What's New
Up-coming teleclasses, workshops ... book!
Friday Focus - A free 30 minute focused session to discuss your specific challenges, objectives and goals for 2008, get a sounding board for your ideas, increase your motivation and create accountability. Call or email to arrange a date and time.
Teleclass: Get Control of your Time A series of teleclass on the more common challenges facing busy people today. Goal setting, planning, email, paperwork and procrastination. Join a one-hour call, once a month on a Tuesday lunchtime.
Don't have time to attend? You can still register for the call and you'll receive the notes and free Weekly Time Tips - next call on Tuesday 22nd July.
Sign-up for all six calls for only £49.95 or £9.99 each.
Mums In Biz - Business start up seminars focusing directly on issues affecting busy mums. Providing answers to planning, marketing, time management, fun and inspiration with the ultimate aim of helping them to establish and grow a business in tandem with motherhood!
The next one is being held in Brighton on Tuesday 9th September.
Integrity/Focus Day - Thursday 24th July 10am - 4pm. Strictly limited to 6 places. Contact me for details.
Time Management For Dummies Available for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk - published in September.
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 know anyone who would benefit from some of the advice and information, please forward it on to them. If you'd rather not receive my monthly newsletter, just click the link at the bottom of this email.
Until next month,
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
----------
Create your own automated newsletters with Aweber. E-mail follow up, ad tracking, & real-time stats for your emails. http://www.aweber.com/features.htm?207782
----------