100 Day Challenge - Why our lives are like the caucus race

The 100 Day Challenge: 18th February 2012
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'What is a Caucus-race?'said Alice ...

'Why,' said the Dodo, 'the best way to explain it is to do it.' ...

First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, ('the exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there. There was no 'One, two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over... http://sabian.org/alice_in_wonderland3.php

Have you ever felt your life was like the caucus race? Not knowing what you've done, how far you've gone or indeed how far left there is to go.

While the challenge does help, it helps even more if you know what you want and what you are going to do every day to reach it...

So a couple of easy questions to begin with:

1. how many hours are there in a day? and
2. how many half hours are there?

Out of those 24 hours or 48 half hours per day do you spend working on your challenges?

Ok, you say you need more time, well lets do some simple arithmetic

From the 24 hours

- take away the time you sleep
- travelling time to and from work
- the time at work - when you are working
- the time you waste while at work (be honest)
- how much time you take for breaks including lunch
- what time you spend at home - break it down, what time do you spend fetching takeout, cooking dinner, eating it, doing the dishes and chores, supervising homework or doing your own
- how much time do you spend watching tv or playing games, time on facebook or twitter 9that isn't business related)?
- how much time do you spend reading and responding to emails

now - how much time do you spend on your challenges?

If you are completely honest, there will be blocks of time when you could be more productive. The time when you get to work for instance, while the computer is warming up and you are wafting for the kettle to boil or the caffeine to kick in. Then there is the mid morning slump, the time you wander down the corridor to find someone to have a natter to; Lunch time - do you really need to spend all that time eating and socialsing? Mid afternoon - that time you crave something sweet to get you through the rest of the afternoon.

We can of course add in all the time you spend in front of the computer and / or tv

And the commute to and from work.

If you look at this way, it doesn't take much to dramatically increase your productivity levels. All you have to be is more aware of the time you spend and decide if that IS the way you want to spend that time.

For example:
Listen to something productive in the car rather than drive time radio, save yourself the pain of all the inane blather and learn something new, or listen to the audio books and programs you have purchased over the years and never got around to it. Then there is the time you spend on the train or the bus to work. Walk during half your lunch break or do as the ex -CEO did of Campbells combined his daily workout while walking through the workplace and engaged with his employees at the same time - http://www.rogeredwardjones.com/authentic-leadership-styles/2012/2/7/combining-employee-engagement-with-a-daily-workout.html

Today marks the end of week 7 of 2012. You should by now know what you want to achieve during the rest of this year. My major goal from last year culminates in March of this year. And you get to share in the fun.... I'll reveal all tomorrow.

For today though all I would ask is that you balance your "normal" day to day stuff. Be honest about where you are spending your time and work out ways you can incorporate more time for those challenges you have laid down for yourselves.

You won't always get it right, sometimes it may seem like it's 2 steps forward and 1 step back... but as long as the general momentum is forward you will do better than 90% of the rest of the population.

With many thoughts

Elle

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