Terri 's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 19th

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. - Dale Carnegie

What motivates the reader?  The author writes about working towards accomplishing dreams and has tried to be intentional during the stay-at-home order, but as the author wrote last week it has been difficult.  Last weekend, the author had a shift in her life and started pressing hard to accomplish tasks.  On Sunday when she turned off her laptop, she had completed every task on her to-do list. 

The reader probably wonders what she did that changed her mindset.  She took the action of reserving a hotel room in Virginia Beach and plans to spend Memorial Day weekend on the beach.  The author had talked about going to the beach, but when she took action everything changed. 

Since making that reservation, the author has questioned if it is safe for her to go and she is praying and researching safety concerns in that area.  However, the author is still moving towards taking the trip, which is helping push the author to get more tasks completed.  The author took action and is following the perspective of John Maxwell who said:

Pay now, play later; play now, pay later.

By accomplishing tasks and working on other activities, the author will be able to play next weekend hopefully in Virginia Beach. 

The future depends on what you do today. - Mahatma Gandhi

And the author incorporated this quote into her life when writing this blog post.  She used her time wisely to write the blog post while waiting for car repairs to be completed and after the repairs were done, she played in the afternoon.   

ACTION: What action will you take today to allow yourself the opportunity to play over Memorial Day Weekend and after your areas stay-at-home order is lifted?

Resource

Unbeatable Mind Podcast with Mark Divine –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsM75CI9V4U&t=4315s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnNMaRBk0ow 

https://pastorrick.com/when-making-a-decision-use-the-investment-test/?roi=echo7-37190542707-55477596-d07a78eaf9d9c5413d6281a4961b4a6a

My New Morning Routine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cH4qgV15q8&t=331s

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 12th

In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.  – Dave Hollis

About the same time the lock-down order was announced in Virginia, the author read the above quote and did not really think much about it.  Always looking for good quotes for Terri’s Tuesday Tip of the Week, she figured she could use it somehow in a blog post later, but she let the quote simmer in her thoughts for the last couple of months.  Now that the country is starting to reopen, the author has been contemplating this quote more and more. 

Through this season, the author has lived intentionally in some areas and not in others.  As the author wrote last week, she has been unmotivated to read knowing that a big part of the problem is the 10-hour days she has been working causing the desire to read to not be there.  Contemplating what she wants her life to be like when she starts commuting back to the office and is able to socialize with friends, she pondered the above quote. 

The stay-at-home order has been difficult on many of us.  For the author, being alone in an apartment staring at four walls reminded her of the 25 months she was unemployed where she stayed at home most days and would go to the grocery store to just get out of her apartment.  Additionally, not seeing an end to this situation has been difficult for her.  However, this past Saturday, there was a change in the author that she will write about next week.   

Sometimes in order for change to be made in a positive fashion, we must force ourselves to look unblinkingly at painful realities and reevaluate. - Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman

Many of the podcasts the author listens to have asked people what they plan on taking from this time and continuing as we return back to commuting to the office, socializing, sports, etc.   Over the next week, create a list of the things the reader has learned from this time?  What changes do you plan to incorporating into the next season of life?  

ACTION: Create a list of the things you are going to continue in life that you started during the stay-at-home order.

Resource

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsM75CI9V4U&t=4315s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnNMaRBk0ow

https://pastorrick.com/when-making-a-decision-use-the-investment-test/?roi=echo7-37190542707-55477596-d07a78eaf9d9c5413d6281a4961b4a6a

My New Morning Routine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cH4qgV15q8&t=331s

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - May 5th

I often lose motivation, but it's something I accept as normal.

― Bill Rodgers

Slow and steady wins the race. - https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/awesome-motivational-quotes-on-weight-loss/

How is your motivation?  Over the last month and half, the author has been challenging readers to be intentional about accomplishing tasks during the lockdown, but she has not been very motivated to work on some of her goals.  Her loss of motivation is due to various issues at work and physical distancing.  Weekends have been spent working and sitting on the couch chilling.  However this past weekend, the author had the opportunity to watch the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the Pentagon in recognition of COVID-19 Responders.  Additionally, the author spent time outside in beautiful spring weather and finally had time to read.

As an individual that is consistently working towards goal achievement, this has been very hard because the author wants to continually learn and surpass her goals.  The author listens to podcasts daily, but she also knows the benefits of reading and has not been motivated after a long day at work. 

With making time over the weekend to spend outside and read, the author was reminded of the truth of the following statement by Confucius:

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.

If you like the author have not been motivated to work on goals, Eleanor Roosevelt said:

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. - Eleanor Roosevelt

CHALLENGE: How is your motivation?  How do you handle times when you are not motivated?  How can the quotes from Confucius and Elanor Roosevelt help you in life?

Resource

https://jamesclear.com/power-of-environment

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - April 28th

Stop waiting for Friday, for summer, for someone to fall in love with you, for life. Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it and make the most of the moment you are in now. - Anonymous

Whatever you’re facing today, keep going.  Keep moving.  Keep hoping.  Keep pressing on.  There is Victory on the other side! – Mandy Hale

How are you surviving social distancing?  For the author, it has not been easy because she greatly enjoys hanging out with friends.  To help stay positive and thankful, the author has helped other people, sent cards and encouraging texts to friends.

For the author, she has had to stay focused on working toward achieving her goals and her desire to go to the beach this summer.  The author has kept her dream in front of her in a couple ways:

1.       Last week, the author mentioned needing “noise” in her apartment, but it could not be the television.  The author regularly plays YouTube videos of waves crashing against the sea shore.  This helps her have “noise” and it also reminds her of the reward coming at the end of the lock down.

Additionally, the ocean waves are very tranquil and peaceful.  When the author feels overwhelmed from her to-do list, she takes a moment to breathe, look at the beautiful scenery and relaxes.  These short breaks help refocus the author and she is able to continue with her work. 

2.       Every day, we have to find joy in these trying times.  Over President’s Day weekend, the author went to presidential and military historical sites.  While gone, she went shopping and found an inexpensive shower curtain.  She struggled purchasing it because she knew she had a shower curtain at home, but it had been in her apartment for about three years.  The author bought it and put the new shower curtain up.  Now every time the author is in her bathroom, she looks at the beautiful blue, purple and teal pastels on the shower curtain and is reminded of the ocean that she loves so much.  The author discovered how important it is to have the items in her home that make her happy and bring her joy.  It is quite possible that these items will also be reminders of the dreams and goals we have in life.

CHALLENGE: What are you looking forward to after the lock down is over?  What reminders do you have that continually remind you to stay positive and focused because you will come out on the other side of this situation stronger?

Resource

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/stop-waiting-friday

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - April 21st

If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one. - Russian proverb

Be like a postage stamp—stick to one thing until you get there. - Josh Billings

Multi-tasking is the opportunity to screw up more than one thing at a time. - Unknown

As the author has been working on being intentional in her work and goal accomplishment, she has been reminded of a few things.

1.       Focus - Multitasking does not work.  Various studies have concluded that multi-tasking actually makes individuals less effective.  By focusing on one thing at a time, our whole being is completely focused on that task.

You can do two things at once, but you can’t focus effectively on two things at once. - Gary Keller, author of The One Thing

The author lives alone and it is very quiet in her apartment.  To provide “noise”, she tried having the television on; however, the television created distractions because the author often took time to listen to news story or watch something funny, which caused her to stop and then have to remember where she was to restart.  It is very difficult for the author, but she determined that she has to have quiet or another type of “noise” going on in the background.  More about this next week!

2.       With the author’s to-do list, she often looks at it and immediately feels overwhelmed.  When the author had those feelings, she quickly decided the best thing to do was prioritize what was the most important task to complete.  The author knows her work priorities come from what her boss needs and then what is important for the staff she works with.  By having a prioritized to-do list, the author knows that once she completes one task she moves to the next and does not waste time contemplating what to do next.     

Success demands a singleness of purpose. - Vince Lombardi

CHALLENGE: What distractions do you need to remove from your life to accomplish goals?  Are your priorities established to help move toward goal accomplishment?  If not, how do you plan to determine how to prioritize your task list?

Resource

·       https://examinedexistence.com/12-fantastic-quotes-one-thing-not-multi-tasking/

·       https://blog.ryan-jenkins.com/2014/06/23/are-you-multitasking-your-way-to-irrelevance

·       Episode 231: Time Blocking | A New Model for Your Time - https://www.the1thing.com/podcasts/231/

·       https://www.the1thing.com/blog/time-management/the-pomodoro-method-of-time-blocking/

·       https://www.the1thing.com/blog/the-one-thing/the-multitasking-myth-the-science-behind-one-thing-at-a-time-holds-true/

·       Andy Stanley - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pt223q-NnA&t=1329s)

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - April 14th

The way to get the most out of your work and your life is to go as small as possible. Most people think just the opposite. They think big success is time consuming and complicated. As a result, their calendars and to-do lists become overloaded and overwhelming. -Gary Keller

Success is deliberate.  It doesn’t come as an accident.  What you work for is what you achieve. Faith without work is a vain hope.― Israelmore Ayivor, Become a Better You

As the author stated last week, she decided to become intentional to complete tasks preparing her to have fun when the Virginia “Stay at Home” order is lifted.  Additionally, this will keep the author on track to accomplish her goals in 2020. 

The simple steps the author implemented to become intentional in life were:

1.       Create a list of tasks to complete for work/personal goal accomplishment.  Once the list is created, break down each task to the action steps needed to complete the task.  By listing all of the actions, the reader will know exactly what needs to be done to accomplish the task.  Often times, a large task seems impossible, but when it is broken down into smaller action steps it becomes much easier to accomplish.  Another benefit of having all of the action steps written down for each task is that if the reader is interrupted, they will be able to pick up exactly where they left off.  At the end of the day, any leftover tasks can be moved to the next day’s list. 

Success isn’t that difficult; it merely involves taking twenty steps in a singular direction. Most people take one step in twenty directions. - Benjamin Hardy

2.       Set a time block for how long you will work on the list without distractions.  This may be difficult based on family being home so it may mean getting up early or staying up later to accomplish goals.  During this time, focus completely on the tasks on the lists.

Be conscious of your actions daily. - Sunday Adelaja

Work on Purpose - Play on Purpose - Rest on Purpose - Do not let yourself or anyone else waste your time. - Izey Victoria Odiase

3.       Have a reward for completing intentional time.  The reward could be doing something with family, reading a book, taking a walk, baking, etc.  Ideas are endless.

Too much work is bad, too much fun is bad. Find that balance in your life, live smart. Live good. – Jc Caylen

The above steps may seem very simple, but during uncertain times creating a regular routine and maintaining it will create consistency and peace in one’s life. 

CHALLENGE: What steps are you going to take to be intentional to achieve goals during this time?

Resource

·       https://medium.com/swlh/think-big-go-small-how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-work-and-life-fdade374a10b

·       Episode 2: How to get organized at work - https://www.the1thing.com/podcasts/how-to-get-organized-at-work/

·       Episode 6: What 794 people like you taught us about time blocking - https://www.the1thing.com/podcasts/what-794-people-like-you-taught-us-about-time-blocking/

·       Episode 231: Time Blocking | A New Model for Your Time - https://www.the1thing.com/podcasts/231/

·       https://www.the1thing.com/blog/time-management/the-pomodoro-method-of-time-blocking/

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - April 7th

Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals. - Jim Rohn

Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others' choices make us. - Richie Norton

On March 30, 2020, the Virginia Governor declared a “Stay at Home” order declaring everyone needed to remain in their homes except for essential work, health or shopping needs until June 10, 2020.  When the author heard this, she called Mama Flow and strongly stated her frustration with this order.  To the author, she immediately thought about the negative aspects of how she would not be able to move towards “some” of her dreams and not be able to socialize with her friends.  After voicing her opinion, she went to bed and woke up the next morning with a different mindset.  She decided that she would use the 70+ days starting on March 31, 2020 to prepare for when the “Stay at Home” order was lifted.  She knew that she would want to socialize with friends when this was over.  Thinking about what prohibited her from socializing, she started working on accomplishing tasks such as reading books, going through mail, cleaning her apartment, getting caught up at work, etc. 

That morning working out and listening to a podcast, the author heard the speaker state the word “intentional” relating to goal achievement.  The word intentional has stayed on the author’s mind for almost a week now.  According to Oxford Dictionaries, intentional means “done on purpose; deliberate”. 

Last week, the author mentioned that she had not been able to figure out how to change the mindset of working more and “making up time” for taking breaks while teleworking.  The answer is the word “intentional”.  Next week, the author will explain the simple steps she created for herself to remain intentional during this time and remove the “making up time” mindset. 

Intentional living means making choices in your life based on your greatest values, not the habits of others. - Brian Buffini

CHALLENGE: What new habits do you want to intentionally incorporate into your life or intentionally remove from your life during this time?

Often times, accountability is the biggest issue why people do not remain intentional.  A free resource to check out for a 66-day challenge is: https://trainings.the1thing.com/66-Day-Challenge-membership-benefits.

Resources

·       Episode 224: Don’t Fall Behind, Front Load Your Priorities | A New Way to View Time & Have a Relationship With Your Goals - https://www.the1thing.com/podcasts/224/

·       https://medium.com/swlh/think-big-go-small-how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-work-and-life-fdade374a10b

·       https://www.simplyfiercely.com/an-intro-to-intentional-living/

·       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3w2tRv0XYY

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 31st

The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately. – Unknown

Today is the last day of the first quarter of 2020.  How is your year going?  Yes, we are dealing with unique times, but it is definitely not the time to stop pushing toward goal achievement.  This is the time to buckle down and keep pushing forward. 

As many people are working from home, there are potentially two scenarios individuals are dealing with:

1.       Working more because travel time is reduced or a mindset after taking a break that the time has to be “made up”.   

2.       With children or family members also at home, there is less time to be productive to work tasks and chipping away at personal goals.      

In the above scenarios, the author is the first one.  She does not have her 30 to 40-minute metro ride currently, which allows her to be on her computer by 6:30am and then work until 5:30 or 5:45pm.  This is not recommended and being “busy” does not mean productive, which is what the author learned recently.  She works long hours, but realized those long hours do not mean she is accomplishing more. 

Don’t focus on being busy; focus on being productive. Allow what matters most to drive your day. - Gary Keller

For accomplishing goals and being productive while working from home (even life overall), the solution is the same.  Spend time either the night before or early in the morning analyzing the tasks that need to be completed and write them down.  Creating a clear plan will guide the individual in what needs to be accomplished and when asked to do something else they can review their plan to determine how they should proceed. 

I guarantee that if you just buckle down, and focus, you can get twice as much done today as you got done in the last two days combined. ― Monroe Mann, Successful New Year!: The 52 Week Inspirational Planner That Will Change Your Life Forever

Once the daily task list is created, it will be easier to set time aside early in the day to accomplish the tasks. 

CHALLENGE: After determining progress on accomplishing goals in the first quarter of 2020, create a plan focusing on the important things in life allowing for time to continue progressing toward goal achievement daily.    

Resources

·       20 Things to do at home during the Coronavirus | Turn Panic into Productivity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIJndPgcrTM

·       https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/in-an-8-hour-day-the-average-worker-is-productive-for-this-many-hours.html

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 24th

Seek the blessings each day brings. - Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

What matters most is how well you walk through the fire. - Charles Bukowski

Humanity is going through interesting times.  Through these trying times, it is important to stay STABLE and continue to press forward in life. 

Stay positive

Current times make it easy to become depressed and negative.  Decide to stay positive no matter the circumstances. 

You gain control over any situation with a positive outlook. - Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

Time for others

Even with the directive to practice social distancing, we can still be there for others through encouraging texts, telephone calls, cards, etc. 

Daily the author checks on one of her friends to make sure he is ok.  It is not the same as socializing in person, but the author is maintaining the friendship and interacting in new and different ways. 

No matter the situation we can always find ways to impact other people’s lives. 

Allay fears

The current situation in society could cause fear in oneself; however, it is our responsibility to allay (put aside) fear and meditate on good things.

Bedrock

My faith is everything. It’s the bedrock, the foundation and the core of who I am. - Maria Taylor

The bedrocks of life will help an individual fight through the difficult situations. 

Leeway

During this time, we have leeway to change our circumstances.  We can maintain a daily routine if it improves us or we can create new priorities/habits and declutter our life to help push forward to accomplish dreams and goals.

Endure

When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about. - Haruki Murakami

CHALLENGE: Remain STABLE and arrive on the other side having hope and knowing that you grew through this situation.

Terri's Tuesday Tip of the Week - March 17th

Efficiency is doing better what is already being done. - Peter Drucker

The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and will power to develop themselves. - Robert Burton

The author is a frugal individual.  She will often purchase items she likes when in a store, but then return them later if she found the items for a cheaper price.  Often times, the difference in price is less than a dollar.  The amount of gas used to return items is probably the amount of money being saved for purchasing the item at a different store.  This is a waste of the author’s valuable time and it is not an efficient way to live life. 

Dream-driven individuals are focused on their goals and are always moving towards them.  They should strive to be efficient in their lives allowing more time to accomplish their dreams.   

Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed. - Peter Drucker

Here are some ideas to help create a more efficient life:

• Automat food deliveries and bill payments wherever possible.  
• Limit interruptions to stay focused and work on one task at a time.
•  Incorporate WhiteSpace into life (reference Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast shown below)

White space is a strategic pause taken between activities. – Juliet Funt

  

•           Implement a routine that can be maintained.
• Remember that being busy does not mean efficient.
• Start a list of items to purchase adding new items throughout the month.  Schedule a shopping trip once per month to purchase items on the list.  
• Write a daily to-do list and review each evening to determine results.  

The most efficient way to live reasonably is every morning to make a plan of one's day and every night to examine the results obtained. - Alexis Carrel

CHALLENGE: Evaluate your life to find areas to improve efficiency.

Resources

https://articles.bplans.com/10-tips-to-improve-business-efficiency/

https://www.tonyrobbins.com/business/improve-work-efficiency/

https://www.life.church/leadershippodcast/q-a-with-whitespace-founder-juliet-funt/