Time to stretch with a little Social Exercise!

Don’t you love it when you’re new to a group and someone makes an effort to get to know you and helps you feel welcome? We are a social species, and when someone is friendly, kind, warm, and welcoming we take a deep breath and are grateful.

In a recent article by David Brooks at the New York Times, Brooks cites a study that shows how much people underestimate the impact of talking to strangers. We underestimate how open most people are to having a conversation, how much we’ll enjoy a conversation, and how much we can learn.

I am a big proponent of trying out new things. So why not practice a little Social Exercise this week and see if you can be that warm and welcoming person in a group you’re part of at work, school, in your neighborhood, or at home?

Organized Zen is all about getting to your best work. Sometimes a stranger is just the person you need to help you figure out how to do that.

Click here for more thoughts.

How’s your work-energy balance?

August 26, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, energy builders, forming a new habit, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, increase your energy, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize your life, organize your work, Tips for work, tips to be more productive, work-life balance

Does the work you do for pay or as a volunteer boost your energy? Or drain it? Organized Zen is all about getting to your best, high-energy work. So what do you do if your work drains you?

I spent most of my career in the “creative” departments of two large direct marketers, but my work was far from creative. I excelled in my career choice because of my organizational skills. I was paid well. And I met some really terrific people. But my energy was drained by the work I chose. I needed something with a deeper connection and I needed to be more creative.

I filled those needs and lifted my energy through volunteer work, first at a Grieving Center, and then running a children’s acting workshop. The cool part about energy is that once you find it, it spreads. In my case, doing volunteer work that touched my heart helped me stick with energy-draining but lucrative professional work until my kids were raised.

In this talk, I share an exercise to help you figure out where and how you get energy. Then I encourage you to ponder ways to bring more energy into your life. Our time here on earth is limited. Today would be a great day to take a baby step that helps you bring out the best of what you have in you.

Cheers!

What gives you energy?

August 17, 2022 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Productivity tips for work, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, getting things done, Getting work done, organization, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organize your life, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive, ways to lift your energy

I came back from working on an opera in Maine ready to write, bike, run, spend more time at the Smithsonian museums, hang out with friends, sew, and sing! (That last one is not so surprising.)

Have you ever noticed that energy begets energy? That when you do something that charges you up, you find a surprising amount of energy to do more?

Here are more thoughts on this! I hope you are having a great August!!

Getting in sync with your core self

June 29, 2022 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Setting organizational priorities, Staying focused Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, organization, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive

You were born with unique gifts to share with the world. When those gifts sync up with what you do on a daily basis, the positive energy of getting to your best work makes you productive and joyous – and we all benefit from that!

This talk challenges you to figure out what your unique gifts are, and to compare that to how you spend your time. Is there stuff in your core you never get to? And/or are you spending time on fun or work that doesn’t touch you at a core level?

More thoughts here!

If this is helpful, please like, share, and subscribe.

“Grow wild according to thy nature.” – Henry David Thoreau

Create connection by asking questions!

June 21, 2022 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Community building, Organizational Exercises building community, Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, getting things done, organization, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now

There are opportunities to build community all around you. My latest was last weekend when I was out kayaking on the Shenandoah River with a Meet Up group of 50 strangers.

When you are on the path to Organized Zen to joyously get to your best work, having a community around you is a delicious support system. And getting connected can start with a smile and a simple question: Where are you from?

Then maybe follow that with: What brought you here today? Where did you grow up? What do you do for work?

You start to build community from the moment you introduce yourself, ask a question, and listen to the answers without jumping in with your own story. You build on that community when you connect one person to another where you find commonalities. And the circle is complete when even the outliers within a group who struggle to start a conversation, are welcomed in and feel seen and heard.

I love this quote from Ross Gay in his new book The Book of Delights: “The more stuff you love the happier you will be.”

Loving the people around you and finding a connection to them is a great step to finding that happiness. I hope this is helpful and that you take a daring step this week to reach out and bring someone new to your community.

Here are my thoughts from a wonderful kayak day on the Shenandoah River.

Your brain would like you to travel!

June 15, 2022 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Planning impacts on your health, Take care of your precious self! brain health, Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, organizational advice, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

~ T.S. Eliot, The Four Quartets

I took off to travel for two weeks starting in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee on a solo camping trip. I would have no showers, internet, or GPS access, but I wanted to see the synchronous fireflies who only breed in this area for about two weeks a year. And I wanted to experience some of what I’m writing about – traveling overland in 1861. I was sure a temporary loss of productivity would be rewarded with a unique glimpse of nature. As I headed south, I felt myself shift from “super-charged, get-it-done” to slow-mode as I prepared myself for the experience.

What I wasn’t expecting was two solid days of drenching rain that delayed the fireflies and changed my learning to cook over an open flame plans. Oh, and then there was my camping neighbor – a black bear hiding out in a tree to avoid being relocated beyond the campground perimeter. After two days of wet, I packed up my soggy gear and continued my trip south.

So was camping a disaster? No. I loved being off the grid with no plans but to “follow my nose.” I got some writing done about what it’s like to live outside in torrential rains. I started and finished reading a book. And I squeezed in some biking through a misty mountain cove. And as odd as the circumstances were, I had time to relax and reflect, to be humbled by nature, and to practice all of my flexibility skills!.

And here’s a cool thing about that. Neuropsychologist Paul Nussbaum, an adjust professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, says that we’re not just changed while we’re traveling, but we’re also slightly different when we get home. That traveling can help us be more creative, open-minded, and trusting. He says that some of that change is because your brain likes having to puzzle out something novel and complex. The trick is to push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone. Or to just go a little slower for a change by choosing a place to travel that has few options for how to spend your time.

Click here for more thoughts on this intriguing subject. Then maybe, maybe, plan your next trip and see how that might open you up to some new personal magnetic north.

What do you want to be known for?

June 10, 2022 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Organizational Exercises, Setting organizational priorities, Staying focused build your brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, Get organized, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, how to get organized, How to stay focused, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organized, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive

I recorded this short video before taking off to travel for a couple of weeks. Traveling tests your mettle – it takes your brand and shakes it up! But more to come on that in my next post.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts and questions about who you are and what you stand for. Are you 100% guaranteed?

Find the Heat!!

May 23, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused Changing habits, Cheryl Strayed, Decision making, Defining who you are, find your passion, forming a new habit, Get organized, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, Maya Angelou, organization, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organized zen, organized zen now, tips to be more productive

People who are sure of themselves and love their work energize any room they come into. There is a joy to being around highly energized, grounded people, so why not be one of them?

When you tap into the “heat” in your life you find that energy. And maybe not just once. We’re not limited by decisions we’ve made in the past. What’s your heat today? What project, work, art, friendship, or ridiculous endeavor would you like to take on?

This talk was inspired by a weekend writing workshop with Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, and Tiny Beautiful Things. Cheryl’s writing is inspiring and you could feel the heat in the room at each session. Plus she’s funny and that’s always a bonus :).

Cheryl shared this quote from Maya Angelou that sums up this talk and is a great point to ponder: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Cheryl’s talk was on writing from the heart – but you can apply the heat test to any aspect of your life. Please don’t leave something you have to offer the world undone!

In this talk, I’ll give you ideas about how to tap into your heart to find the hot spots and take a baby step in a new direction. I hope this brings you inspiration to take a baby step today that sets you off on a new, HOT path.

Summer says: Time to slow down!

May 19, 2022 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Finding your "why", Getting started, Meditation, Organizational Exercises, Planning impacts on your health, Productivity tips for work, Staying focused, Take care of your precious self! Changing habits, Decision making, Defining who you are, forming a new habit, Get organized, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, healing with art, How to stay focused, organization, organizational advice, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, organize, organize your life, organized zen, organized zen now, slow down, tips to be more productive

I love it when I hear a message from one person. And then another. And then another! Sometimes the Universe has to stand directly in front of me to get me to pay attention. What message did I get this week? Slow down!

When you slow down you have time to make sure that where you’re going is a place you want to go. One very cool way to slow down is through art and music which can mendyour mind as well as your heart.

Okay, Universe. I am listening. I promise I’ll slow down. It just may not be until August :).

Here’s more.

I hope the start of your summer has been a joyous, slow time for you. 🙂

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