Listen to what people are saying, things like: ‘I just never catch up’; ‘I am totally overwhelmed’; ‘I don’t know what to do next!’; I have NO time for myself!’; I am SO tried’; ‘I can’t concentrate on anything’; ‘I feel disconnected’, and many more.
Distraught, distracted, overwhelmed, unfocused, absent-minded, worried, confused, anxious, agitated, frantic, stressed, disquieted, unsettled, flustered, tense and perturbed are some of the words used to describe this disease.
And probably the worst, is ‘I feel out of control’!
All that is happening in the world, at my work, in my community and even in my family that it feels completely out of my control.
Years ago, I was fortunate to meet Dr Richard Restack and was deeply interested in what he told me about how the brains of teens who have lived under very difficult circumstances, literally shut down, especially when puberty hits. This is a self-preservation mechanism, the only way to de-sensitise from the constant stressors of living is to become unaffected by all that is going on around you.
And this is what I am beginning to see in many of us.
What to do?
We must consciously choose to shut off some of the constant barrage of messy inputs. Watch less TV; listen to fewer news broadcasts; turn off your phone.
Do spend time in nature; listen to beautiful music; sit in silence; float in your bath tub – take control of YOU!
DK Capture Photography in Poole Bournemouth www.dk-capture.com
What is the BEST use of your precious 3hrs 15mins spread over the next year?
The very best way to get from where you are to where you want to be is to follow this 4 step process – I call it ‘Following the North Star!’
This simple process, requiring minimal time (and is very enjoyable too) will allow you to feel and be in control of YOU!
It starts at around this time of the year, end of the old year or start of a fresh new year. As the spring bulbs pop their new green leaves above the dead leaves and snow, hope springs in the breasts of humans.
So here we go:
STEP 1 – gather dairies & calendars from the previous year
I go through each, highlighting the things I wish to recall and record. Then I gather them together, this year I did by month, sometimes I gather by topic, any way that works for you. I use a mind map as it is a marvellous tool for gathering and sorting the information, however, lists work as well. Here are my summaries of last year’s diaries and quarterly maps (please see below). I don’t always gather so much, but this year I wanted more of a picture, and the enjoyable and quite often surprising results are worth it!
PHEW!!! It is always surprising the number of things I had ‘forgotten’, or not realised that it was all done in the past year!
These activities may take an hour – it depends on how much you want to walk down memory lane. I set my timer for 45 minutes and gently nudge me to be completed.
STEP 2 – Highlight the most important things to you
Get out your favourite coloured highlighters and set to focus again! Now you are pulling out the most significant to you, colour coding helps here. Make your main branches, or list headings as serves you.
To highlight, sort and map is gently another 45 minutes.
STEP 3 – Start to plan for your coming year
I particularly overview my summarised summary and look at ‘What do I want MORE of?’ And ‘What might I wish to change / add / remove?’
I try to keep this simple and doable and motivating.
Then I break this down into quarterly activities, so I may easily keep track of my progress – or lack of it!
This step is probably about 30 minutes – although I may leave it for a day or so, to see if it still sings to me.
STEP 4 – Keeping on track
OK, so all well and good so far, however this is just a paper exercise, and NOW it needs to be turned into reality!
There are two parts to this: 1. A monthly review and 2. Using ‘Change in 8’ from The Change Maker Group to change any habits and attain any goals you wish – magic!
Re 1. Monthly review – around the last day of the month, I take my quarterly map off the board and look at how I have performed! I get a tick if it is good (or even a smiley face!) And I highlight if I need to spend more time / attention on an item. Sometimes I add dates and names to add to the recall at the end of the year!
This activity takes a maximum of 5 minutes for each month of the quarter (times the 4 quarters) so a total of 1 hour.
The first map is of my goals for 2024.
Then I create quarterly maps, again the key branches are what serves and motivates you. Miscellaneous ideas and new thoughts may be added as you think of them.
Here are my four quarterly maps completed and ready to be used for my 2025 summary and new map, and so the wonderful spiralling process starts all over again!
Re 2. I will not cover ‘Change in 8’ here and now, but stay tuned and you will see a lot about it as the year goes on. This simple 8-minute routine allows you to change a habit or achieve a goal – guaranteed!!!
And as true as the North Star is, this will lead you where you want to go. Prepare to be AMAZED at what you have achieved by the end of the year, just follow your star and you will get from where you are to where you want to be!
DK Capture Photography in Poole Bournemouth www.dk-capture.com
