Posts tagged Isolation
How To Finally Stop Procrastinating In Life
Sep 16th
Are you always procrastinating? Do you always end up putting important tasks aside? Do you always put things off resulting in endless delays? If the answer is yes, then you are certainly not alone. All of us have procrastinated many times in our lives.
This is very common for our goals like getting trying to lose weight or actions to take up new skills. Tasks that are unpleasant or involve hard work even though they can result in great benefits are especially prone to procrastination. If you have been procrastinating, in a way that’s okay. It turns out that some of the major goals in life cannot be achieved alone or in isolation. Sometimes we need help from other people as part of group efforts to help us achieve such goals. There is nothing wrong with this.
For example, let’s take physical exercise. Some people can exercise on their own. However, many of us cannot do this. Some people need the help of others as part of a group effort in order to exercise. And that’s why we have fitness classes, fitness trainers and other physical activities that involve more than one person at a time. These are all group efforts and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this at all.
When you have a group effort, it’s like having a group of like-minded individuals teaming up to encourage and motivate each other to achieve big goals. The right type of groups will have individuals who push each other to achieve goals as well as to keep each other accountable. These people will help us stay on top of our goals by helping us to stop procrastinating.
More than likely, we may not have enough of the right individuals to form effective groups from within our own social circles. Friends are often not effective as such group members. Friends as well as family members often procrastinate a lot and therefore they will not likely be very helpful to us in terms of overcoming our own procrastination habits.
Sometimes we have to go outside our current social circles to meet the right people to be part of effective groups that will help keep us accountable to our personal goals. That’s why organized groups in various interests are important to seek out especially if we want to beat procrastination.
So in order to stop procrastinating, we have to first recognize that some of our goals cannot be achieved alone. We need others to help us as part of group efforts. Again, there is absolutely no shame nor anything wrong about this. Second, we need to find effective groups that will help us stay on top of our goals and keep us accountable. It’s the utilization of such effective groups with the right people that will help us finally put an end to our lifelong procrastination so we can achieve significant success in our lives. The most successful people in the world do not procrastinate at levels that hamper their goals. And group efforts with others are the key to how they do this.
Slow Down and Enjoy Relationships
Jul 17th
I keep my time saved in a box
From going fast in cars
I’ve piled it up high
From saying hello to friends with a quick goodbye
~Kathryn Williams, Flicker
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Corey Allan of Simple Marriage.
The world is seemingly moving at a faster pace. Everywhere you turn, the pace is quick. Deadlines are moved up, workload is increased, kid’s schedules are packed, to-do lists are long, housework never ends – it’s chaos.
At least it feels this way.
Has the world really sped up? Are there more things happening today than 50 years ago? No, and no.
Some things around us may involve more pressure and feel like it’s moving faster, but many times it only feels this way. Thanks to the Internet and cable we hear about everything that happens, immediately.
Our interconnectedness through technology has helped create the illusion of a faster paced world. It’s also created the illusion of less loneliness and isolation – but there’s nothing that can replace real life connections with other people. Physical contact and interaction is vital.
This loss of contact and the perceived pace of the world produces a feeling of chronic anxiousness and a decrease in the ability to find pleasure in some of the simple things.
Honestly, when was the last time you stopped and took in the smell of fresh baked bread? Or colored with crayons? Or walked barefoot in the grass? Or took a few minutes to just breathe?
No where is the impact of our pace felt more than in marriage and family. It’s extremely difficult to move hurriedly through your day and then slow down enough to enjoy your family or your spouse in the evening.
Some of the reasons marriage and family relationships go through sour patches is the squeezing they get from our schedules, disconnection, and pace. It’s easy to get caught up in other things and have the immediate outweigh the important.
To reverse this, here’s a few ideas to try:
Start small.
No change in life is easy or comfortable. Working to let go of the pace around you and creating your own speed takes time and should be attempted in small, incremental steps. Begin by giving yourself permission to slow down. This may seem like a no brainer, but many people believe they don’t have permission to slow down. You do. Whenever life seems to move too fast, take a deep breathe. Three to five slow, deep breaths will slow everything down.
Leave the office.
And I mean leave the office. Shut off all projects, messages, emails, phone calls and conversations and leave the office at the end of the day. Most everything can wait until the next day, so leave it alone until then. As an added help, create a routine to help you disengage from the office on the way home. Walk down the stairs slowly rather than taking the elevator. Drive down tree lined streets rather than the interstate. Walk or bike home from work if possible. Listen to good music while on the train or bus. Stop by the gym for a workout. No matter which way you transition from work to home, make it intentional. Breathe. Relax. Breathe. Let work go. Then walk through the door to your home and enjoy time with those you love.
Turn off all electronic gadgets.
This one is simple. Turn off the phone. The Internet. The television. Spend time talking, playing games, take a walk outside. The point is, unplug and connect with other humans.
Be 100% present.
This is tough at times. But it also is a source of increased tension in life. When I’m with my kids and have other things on my mind, my kids become a pest and source of frustration – at least that’s the way it plays out. When I’ve got work on my mind, my son’s request to play cars is an annoyance rather than an invitation into the world of imaginative play with my child. Whatever you are doing, focus on being 100% present. Multitasking is impossible anyway. Focus on doing one thing at a time and being 100% present while doing it.
Take a walk.
Make it a priority to walk with your spouse and your kids each day. There’s tremendous benefit to being out in nature, even if it’s nature in the city. Want a sure-fire way to improve your marriage? Walk and talk with your spouse at least 30 minutes a day.
Eat outside.
There’s something great about being in nature. There’s something even greater about sharing a meal with others outside. Head to the park for a picnic, eat on the patio at home or restaurants.
Prepare for your day.
Spend a moment at the end of your day preparing for the next day. Pick out clothes, make lunches, talk with your spouse. Then in the morning, before you jump into your day, take some time a simply sit quietly. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Breathe slowly, meditate, pray. What a great way to start each day.
Corey is the editor of Simple Marriage a site filled with laid back information that will make your relationships better. You can subscribe via rss or email.
