Author Archive for Carolyn

person's feet in black running shoes taking step on stairs

Subatomic Steps: Still Energy Forward

Posted by Carolyn on
 September 12, 2023

Subatomic Steps: Energy in the Smallestlight grey stone with writing - small steps turn into miles and leaf graphic,

Apparently, subatomic is the smallest unit we can measure that has energy in it. While that may seem like a random fact, it was anything but random when I came across the word. Subatomic steps still move us forward.

Earlier this week I was looking for a word to use on my Instagram posts. Every third post, I create a video clip associate with the power or meaning of a word. I link three of those posts together in a series. The series in question SMALL, SMALLER  and now, SUBATOMIC.

Steps Forwardperson's feet in black running shoes taking step on stairs

I was looking for the smallest measurement possible that still contained energy to move forward. A common complaint of my clients is feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged by their inability to move forward or succeed in a goal. Many have tried for years to get out of stuck and into action.

Sometimes what is in front of us just seems too big to handle. That’s when taking small steps forward can make all the difference. Even the smallest of steps creates energy in the direction we want to go.

So, if SMALL is too big, try SMALLER. If a smaller step is too bit try taking an SUBATOMIC STEP. There is energy in the smallest movement forward. Just keep going.

Action I AM Evolution Coaching Productivity Strategy
woman reading book while sitting on a wooden dock beside a small body of water

Productivity Tip: Recharge, Rest, Rejuvenate, Reset

Posted by Carolyn on
 September 4, 2023

Is Summer Vacation Productivity Time?woman reading book while sitting on a wooden dock beside a small body of water relaxing and recharging

How can doing less, rest and recharge help us all be more productive?

It’s summer time in the northern hemisphere. For many people that means a chance to take time off, kick back maybe at the cottage, beach, on a dock or just in the backyard with a barbecue. Or as I heard last night in a move “put your feet in the sand and relax”. Sounds like a great idea.

But how does that help us be more productive?

But I’m Too Busy to Take Time Off

In today’s fast-paced world, the notion of taking time off for a vacation might seem counterintuitive to productivity. However, research and real-life experiences consistently highlight the vital role that vacations play in supporting and enhancing overall productivity. Contrary to popular belief, taking regular breaks and immersing oneself in leisure activities can have a significant positive impact on an individual’s work performance and overall well-being.

A Change is as Good as a Rest

The saying, “A change is as good as a rest” originated in the Victorian era. This was before computers, electronic calendars and the potential for instant video conversations around the world. Our lives have sped up and become more complicated.  The need for a break from our day to day stress is more important that ever. Vacation can provide that change. It might be anything from a staycation to an exotic trip. The bottom line is that you are not doing what you do when you are not on vacation.

The Benefits of Vacationwoman with back to camera sitting on yoga mat beside a body of water on a beach. meditating to recharge

The folks at Allina Health in the USA found seven benefits to planning and taking a vacation. Interestingly, even planning for the vacation can boost our mood. Meanwhile MacMaster University suggests that vacation provides an opportunity rest, relax and recharge. This in turn boosts productivity since individuals have a chance to unplug from the day to day stress.

Additional benefits include:

  1. Improved physical health. By reducing stress we reduce the risk of stress enhanced ailments such as coronary artery disease. Individuals who are more physically fit may be more productive with high endurance.
  2. Mental Rejuvenation. Vacation allows for a feeling of calm and rest. This in turns allows the body and mind to renew and recharge. Returning to work with an improved mood helps increase focus and productivity. The media mogul and television personality Oprah Winfrey is known for taking regular vacations to recharge. She often talks about how these breaks help her refocus and maintain her high level of productivity and creativity. Arianna Huffington, the co-founder of The Huffington Post and author of “The Sleep Revolution” is an advocate for work-life balance and the importance of taking breaks.
  3. Increased Creativity. Stepping away from the day to day through vacation or a mini retreat, allows our brain to see things from a new perspective. Without the day to day stress, with a change in routine, creativity is stimulated. Richard Branson disconnect when he goes on vacation in order to recharge and enhance his creativity. Branson claims to be able to new insights into old problems.

So if you have vacation time coming here are a few tips to help you recharge and come back renewed and rejuvenated.woman sitting on mountain side looking out over valley, resting

  1. First up, take your vacation time.
  2. Try and arrange a change in scenery and change in schedule.
  3. Build in lots of down time for reflection and relaxation. Think read a book, swim or whatever is relaxing for you.
  4. Unplug. Spend time without your phone or email.
  5. Build in time when you return to prepare for your return to the normal day to day life. That way you aren’t rushed to find clean clothes and the car keys.

We all need time to recharge to be more productive. Vacation can help improve physical being, improve mental and emotional outlook and thereby improve productivity. So take your vacation. And enjoy.

I AM Evolution Coaching Productivity Uncategorized
Many pieces of paper with "Alternative" written on them in different colours and fonts.

Decision Fatigue: What it is and how to manage it

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 20, 2023

Decision fatigue is more common than one might think. As an organizing professional I see it a lot. But what is it really, how does it show up and what can be done about it? This blog article takes a look at the idea from an organizers perspective.

Definition
many white tabs with "Option" writing on them in different styles and colours.

According to Wikipedia, decision fatigue refers to the impact of having to make too many decisions, or too difficult decisions, in a short space of time. In other words, it is the impact of that experience that is the fatigue referred to by psychologists.

Decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,” said Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist. “The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”

What it looks like when organizing.

As I mentioned this is a common experience for me as an organizing professional. Because I work with individuals affected by chronic disorganization, I specifically designed the hands on portion of my business to be face to face with clients for only 3 hr sessions at a time. (Sessions for packing and unpacking associated with move management are longer). The reason is specifically due to decision fatigue.

It did not take me very long as a newcomer to the industry to recognize that clients would literally stop making decisions at about 150 minutes, or 2.5 hrs into our session. I had already been introduced to decision fatigue while taking a Masters in Health Services Administration degree. So, I knew this could be an issue.

There are six ways decision fatigue shows up. Avoiding decisions, or glazing over, is just one of them.Many pieces of paper with "Alternative" written on them in different colours and fonts.

  1. Reduced ability to make a trade off: in this impact, my clients can’t decide between choice A and choice B. If we agree that they will only keep one of two items, they can’t decide which one to choose.
  2. Decision avoidance: this second impact shows up as the client not wanting to make any decisions at all. Clients will sometimes show distraction from our task, ask me to make the decision or, for those who have more self-awareness, simply throw up their hands and state “I can’t decide”. For the record, no, I don’t make those decisions for my client.
  3. Impulsive activity: this is especially true for purchases at the cash register for shoppers. In organizing however, this impact of decision fatigue often show up as “throw it all out”. Clients impulsively decide to get rid of everything because they simply don’t have the mental energy left to decide.
  4. Impaired self-regulation: this is when the client doesn’t hold themselves to their usual standard of behaviour. Clients tend to get irritable and may be short or “snippy” with me or someone else in the family.
  5. Susceptibility to decision making biases: in this impact, the client tends towards an easier decision vs a correct or wise decision. It may be easier to simply not discard anything from a “I don’t like this” clothes pile than to be able to determine if any could hold any more value in the client’s future.
  6. Decision conflict and regret: In this impact the client becomes more and more worried about making a wrong decision. Eventually they just stop making decision altogether.

What do to about Decision Fatigue?hand with pole balanced on it show signs in opposite directions each saying "I don't know"

There are several ways to manage decision fatigue. When working with clients, I use whichever one works. I recommend you use whatever works for you.

  1. Take a break from the project you are working on. If possible physically remove yourself from the location and go to somewhere else even if it is just another room in the house or another office. Spend enough time in this other location doing something else until you feel at least a little bit refreshed.
  2. Change the task. If you are organizing clothes, try switching to working on a work project or making a meal. If possible, try switching to an entirely different task, however, even making decisions about a different set of items will help. If you are sorting clothes, try moving over to books.
  3. Go for a walk in nature. Walking in the woods, in a park or even just down the street will help to refresh your mind and your decision making muscles.
  4. Ensure you are adequately hydrated and have eaten enough to that point in the day. Many times while working, clients forgot to eat and drink. Hydration is most important however, being adequately nourished is also important.

Have you ever experienced decision fatigue? What was your experience? Drop me a note in the comments.

Action Declutter Organizing Challenges Organizing Resources Strategy
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hand with thumbs up agains blue sky and white cloud

Celebrate to be More Productive

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 12, 2023

hand with thumbs up agains blue sky and white cloudSay “celebrate” and many people think champagne, confetti and fireworks. In fact, try and find a royalty-free picture for celebration and I was hard pressed to find one that didn’t include champagne, crystal glasses or someone toasting.

What if a high five, pat on the back or simple acknowledgement of accomplishment could help you get things done? I think it can and does and encourage all my clients to celebrate on a regular and consistent basis.

Celebrate Yourself

The first task is to learn to celebrate yourself. How good are you at it?

Many of us are not very good at all. We are great at being critical and telling ourselves we can do better. How often do we say “Hey, I did that. Way to go”?books, glasses, rose bouquet and end of keyboard on desk.

I can use myself as a great example here. Yesterday I went for a walk, 3,000 steps I might add, for the first time since developing a cough last October. It took almost a full six months to resolve the cough. In the meantime, I did not feel up to walking. When I returned home I found myself standing in the kitchen, reflecting on my accomplishment. After regular daily walks over 10,000 steps for three years, and a hiatus of over six months, I was finally back hitting my stride; literally. And then I realized I could walk the talk and celebrate my own success. I gave out a holler and a woop and raised both hands int the air. “I did it!”.

Wow that felt good. There already were fresh flowers on the dining room table. Otherwise, I would have bought myself some more.  Maybe I still will and put them in my office.

Micro Tasks and Celebrationchild's hand with many colours of paint showing the palm and 5 fingers

Let’s continue the conversation about micro tasks. They go hand in hand with using celebration as a productivity tool.  For a quick review, micro tasks are very, very small, specific tasks that take less than five minutes to complete and, are so simple, that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, you can be successful.  Overwhelming, daunting projects can all be broken down into micro tasks. Stack a series of five minute micro tasks on top of each other, and even an overwhelming project can be accomplished.

With the completion of each micro task is the opportunity to celebrate. Micro tasks are so small, it gives us lots of opportunity to celebrate, over and over and over again. Pat yourself on the back, give yourself a high five, woop and holler in the kitchen like I did, and recognize you got the task done.

Each time you acknowledge and celebrate, your brain registers the accomplishment and you earn a little hit of the brain juices associated with accomplishment and celebration. And because the tasks are so small, and you are guaranteed to be successful (according to the definition of micro task) there are lots of chances to keep that celebration going. And that brings lots of chances for your brain to earn the celebration juices.

Celebration and Productivitygreen eye with clock on eyeball showing 11:55

Individuals who struggle with productivity often stall or stumble due to procrastination, fear of failure, perfectionism and a myriad of “what if” scenarios that may or may not be realistic. Using micro tasks to generate action and therefore energy can often be a route through these stumbling blocks. So the question becomes, how to get started and how to keep going.

By celebrating the completion of each micro task the brain is rewarded with some dopamine. This in turn makes us feel good. When we feel good we are more likely to repeat the behaviour to make that good feeling return. Now I am reminded how good it felt to walk my 3,000 steps again, I am more likely to do it again. When I do, I will celebrate again, receive another dopamine surge and want to do it again.

We know we miss 100 percent of the shots we don’t take, a reference to hockey and sports in general. The same is true of productivity; if we don’t try, we are guaranteed not to be successful. Instead, pairing up micro tasks and celebration is even more powerful than either strategy used by itself and, helps to move beyond the usual stumbling blocks of unproductive behaviour. The more micro tasks you try, the more you are successful; the more you are successful, the more you can celebrate; the more you can celebrate, the more you feel good about your success; the more you feel good, the more likely your are to try again; the more you try again, the more likely you are to be successful. It’s a winning formula.

I’d love to hear about your success. What have you celebrated recently?

How did the micro tasks work for ou?

 

Action I AM Evolution Coaching Productivity
waves on beach, writing happy birthday to Caldwell Evolution

Yearly Planning with Micro Tasks

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 6, 2023

A New Fiscal Yearwaves on beach, writing happy birthday to Caldwell Evolution

July 1 is the beginning of a new fiscal year for Caldwell Evolution and yearly planning is on the calendar. Micro tasks have come to my rescue again. Yearly planning can be fun, however it can also be overwhelming. Using micro tasks and a dedicated planning process, I was able to get through the process, and get excited for the year, without feelings of overwhelm bogging me down. The process I use is very effective and when paired with micro task strategy, it also be very powerful.

The Yearly Planning Process

The yearly planning process for me involves a review of goals and achievements from the past year, analysis of what worked and what didn’t, setting goals for the following year and some KPI’s (key performance indicators) to go with them. The process I use comes from a coaching program in which I invested during the covid-19 pandemic. I learned a 3 step process from Fabienne Fredrickson, founder of Boldheart.

The process works well if documented on a three column table. Take a piece of paper and divide into three vertical columns. At the top of column one write the title “What I Wanted”. For column two write “What I Got”. Finally, at the top of column three write ‘The Gap, The Lesson”

Step One: What Did YouWant/Desire?Three columns on a piece of white lined paper marked what I wanted, what I got and what is the Gap or Lesson.

Step One is carefully listing what you had wanted for the year. (I am assuming you are also using this for yearly planning. If not, use whatever time frame within which you are planning.) When planning for the previous year, what were you hoping or expecting to attain during the year.  No judgement, just list each item on your table in the first column to the left.

Step Two: What Did You Get?

In the second column, titled “What I Got”, write down beside items in column one what actually happened by the end of the year. Did you expect $100,000 in revenue? What did you actually achieve? Were you hoping to travel to a hot vacation location? Did you travel? Again, no judgement; at this point just write the facts. Column two is the first of two reality checks. Be honest.

Step Three: What is the Gap/What is the Lesson?

In the third column, beside the items in column one and two, write the difference between what you wanted and what you got. In addition, what did you learn from that difference (gap)? What was the lesson? You may have achieved or received more than you wanted or desired. Or you may have achieved less.  In both there is something to be learned about what you did to make it happen or what you did that prevented your goal from being achieved. This is your second reality check. Look at the habits or behaviours or things you did, in other words had control over, that made the desired achievement happen, or not happen. The high performance athletes review this as “How did I control the controllables to set myself up for success?”

Using Micro Tasks

This is where I find the micro tasks most helpful. Writing all that down can get tedious for me. It takes some brain power, thoughtfulness and time. If I am not careful, the process doesn’t actually get finished and I never fully commit to the key performance indicators. By breaking each step down, I completed not only this tedious part of yearly planning, but the entire yearly planning process over the course of a week.  Breaking down into micro tasks meant using really short work sprints.

Micro tasks can be as small as 5 minutes. For this task, I worked in 20-30 minute sprints. Because I had written goals for fiscal year 2023, I simply logged those in column one. That was one task. Column two took a bit more work since I had to review what was actually achieved over the year. That took a couple of time sprints. Finally, column three is more about analysis. Those I tackled one item at a time and gave myself permission to get up and do something else in between items.

With the columns filled, my next task was to identify what I want to achieve in fiscal year 2024, what success would look like and what the key performance indicators would be. Again, I broke the process into small tasks by tackling each desired achievement as a separate task.

The Result

One of the benefits of working with micro tasks is the built in reinforcement the strategy offers. When each task is completed, your brain registers an accomplishment and with it, all the lovely positive chemicals that go with that. Accomplishments don’t have to be huge. They can be small.  Using micro tasks to avoid feelings of overwhelm, creates more accomplishments.

Are we fooling our brains? Maybe, however, sometimes that’s exactly what has to happen to get through a bigger project. Breaking a big project into a series of micro tasks can be a game. Each step completed is worthy of a celebration, check in a task list, high five and a cheer. String together those micro tasks and the project is done.

Yearly planning? Check.

Caldwell Evolution News Mentored for Momentum Coaching Planning Productivity
shelf in desk unit half empty

Micro Tasks

Posted by Carolyn on
 June 26, 2023

Micro Tasks Challenge the 15 Minute Declutter Routine

Could it be that micro tasks could be even more successful than a daily 15 minute declutter routine? I say yes; I think they can and that we ought to all jump on this bandwagon. Micro tasks could possibly even replace the 15 minute declutter routine.

How it Startedshelf in desk unit half empty

Mindlessly, I was stared at the shelf beside my desk. I had done so countless times before, while thinking through yet another online tech challenge. I have no recollection of sorting out the tech issue. It was clear there were things on the shelf I had not used in years and was never likely to use. In a split second, I decided to clear the shelf, wipe it off and remove to a donation pile those things I would not use. Like the audio CD for learning Spanish. I no longer have a CD player on my computer or portable device to play it.

In less than 5 minutes I had a clean shelf that was now half empty, a small bag of denotable items and a few items in recycling and garbage. The result of my micro task was a very satisfying declutter. The shelf is half empty, clean and can be used more effectively.

Micro TasksPiles of paper and filed on a desk top.

I soon determined that micro tasks could be done almost anywhere, almost any time. I’ve made a game of it. Just this morning, while waiting on the front door step for my son to load the car before leaving, I clipped back the trailing plants in the planter. The micro task took 5 minutes. Later while waiting for a video clip to upload, I wiped the windows sill, rinsed the stained-glass ornaments, took away the ones I no longer wanted and put everything back. Another 5 minutes.

I’ve defined micro task as a 5-10 minute task that can be completed with little or no additional equipment and contributes to clutter free living. Two days ago I took the ski jackets out of the front hall cupboard, inspected for rips and tears and transported to our off-season storage rack in the basement. I’ve got my eye on a shoe rack with 5 pairs of flip flops that haven’t left the rack in awhile – maybe 2 years. While waiting for the kettle to boil, I can scoop up the flip flops, inspect for integrity and bag for donation. This last task makes use of the concept of time layering along with micro tasks.

The Gamebrightly coloured flip flops in a circle all touching toes.

Try it.

  1. Look for 5 minutes either between other projects or activities or while waiting for something else to happen (standing in line)
  2. Look around for a 5 minute task that is super easy to accomplish. For example, while waiting for the pasta water to boil, take the cutlery out of the cutlery tray, wash the tray and replace the cutlery.
  3. Make a game out of finding a micro task that doesn’t require any extra equipment (except maybe a cleaning cloth).
  4. Make sure that the task contributes to either decluttering or getting something done. For example, I filed the top few items on my paper filing pile waiting for yet another video to upload,.
  5. See how many of these you can do in one day.

The Benefit

Five minutes may not seem like alot of time. Those 5 minute tasks, however, all add up. The paper requires filing. The shelf requires decluttering and the flip flops require a new home.  Add all those micro tasks together, all those 5 minute games, and eventually, you have a clutter free house.

Try it, and let me know how it goes.

Declutter Organizing Strategies Productivity Uncategorized
Galley of sailboat

My Favourite Strategy

Posted by Carolyn on
 June 19, 2023

water lines below deck on boat

The Reality

Faced with the magnitude of a project on the weekend, I realized that I refer to my favourite strategy, either productivity and organizing, more often than I realize.

There I was staring into the bilge of my baby. She’s not a big yacht. She is just big enough to require lots of work and weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual maintenance.  You may have heard the expression “a boat is a hole in the water to throw money into”? Yup, that about sums it up. That picture is the water lines in the bilge beside the galley.

In this case it wasn’t the cost of the project, it was how to do the darn thing.  I knew what the end result had to be: tank and lines flushed and filled, inside wiped down with vinegar, dishes and cutlery cleaned, cupboards cleaned out, water filter check, floor washed.

I was struggling with how to get there.  What was the sequence? Why didn’t I write it down last year? Where were last year’s notes anyway? Why couldn’t I just go sailing….?

The Challenge

Frustrated and discouraged, wondering if I ought to have stayed home and worked on my year end finances, I went out to the cockpit. My task list notebook was waiting for me, never far from reach. As I stared at the empty page in my notebook, I thought “this is what my clients maybe feel like before we work together”.

The water system needed to be drained of the potable antifreeze from the winterization. The inside of the boat had to be wiped down with vinegar (my anti mold weapon). The cushions needed airing, other things needed washing. I scribbled away.

The Solution

Break it down. Then break it down again.

This is by far my favourite organizing and productivity strategy. I wrote everything I could think of that needed to be done. Then I did my best to try and sequence the steps.  Some were two person jobs.  I reassessed what I could do alone, and where I needed someone else to help.

Even just seeing the list made me feel better. The tasks seemed more concrete and less overwhleming. The project seemed doable but maybe over two days instead of one. The extra set of hands would have to wait for the second day.

Throughout the day I checked in regularly with the list.  This kept me on task.  Yes, I strike out what is complete. This keeps me motivated and energetic. And if you followed my Instagram account, you know I had to take a break at lunch to reassess progress again.

Here’s a peak at the list IMG_3821 after day one.

The ResultGalley of sailboat

Everything got done right down to washing the dishes and setting out the sheets not the berth. Fresh water in the tanks. Filter clean. Fresh dish towel on display – ready to sail and entertain.

My favourite organizing and productivity strategy came through again.

What’s your favourite strategy? Do you have one. Feel free to borrow mine. It works.Forward v berth on sailboat with green linen

Organizing Challenges Organizing Sports Gear Organizing Strategies Productivity Uncategorized
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small plant growing out of jar with pennies showing earning a living

Learning to Earn a Living

Posted by Carolyn on
 June 5, 2023

small plant with few green leaves grown out of glass jars with coins in it, learning to earn a living Service & Livelihood as an Entrepreneur

Learning to earn a living as an entrepreneur is not as easy as it sounds. Some people think all entrepreneurs are good at attracting money. Not the case. Some entrepreneurs are just creative folks with great business ideas. This is such an important topic I spend a whole session on it in my Mentored for Momentum Course for professional organizers. This past weekend, I was reminded myself of the importance of earning a living.

Service & Marketing

Modern marketing teaches us about speaking to the pain points of our ideal client. What is the transformation your ideal client seeks that your service or product can provide? To make marketing feel not so icky, not quite so “I hate to promote myself” kind of feeling, today’s marketing gurus teach us to speak directly to our client. Focus on the transformation your service can provide and not on selling.

That sure sounded good to me and that direction has had an impact on the way I market. I was bitten hook, line and sinker many years ago when first introduced to the “provide service and the money will come” concept. At the time I was already a seasoned entrepreneur and struggling to market my business in way that didn’t feel like I was always trying to sell something. I felt like I was. So I switched up my strategy and started to focus on resolving my clients’ head ache and heart ache. The head ache is what makes them angry and frustrated.  The heart ache was what made them sad.

The Need to Earn a Livingsmall plant with few leaves growing from pile of pennies

Even teachers can need a lesson reminder from time to time. This past weekend my lesson was “even the most creative and service oriented amongst us still need to earn a living”. It came from one of my favourite YouTube influencer couples Boho Beautiful.  This is a couple who filled up their YouTube channel with hundreds of free logo classed and guided meditations. I followed them for years from their free material before it occurred to me to buy a program or their membership.  In addition to their YouTube free content, they fundraise for animal shelters when on the road with their business and provided support to ailing dogs while travelling in Nepal.

In their June 2023 monthly member checkin, Mark Spicoluk asked the question “Why do we do all this?” His answer was “to provide service and support the family”. Hmmm, support the family.  That’s right; even the super successful, millions of follower types on YouTube still have to remember at the end of the day, they have to earn a living.

The Balance

As with so much in life, balance is necessary. Modern marketing is about providing service. We are looking for the know, like and trust factor that we can resolve the headache and heartache of our ideal clients. AND it is about earning a living and supporting ourselves and our families. It’s good to be reminded to provide service and focus on the transformation our clients need. There is  also nothing wrong with making money while we are at it.  “The last time I checked, we all pay the same price for milk” is one of my favourite expressions with my mentoring students.

So, if you are an up and coming entrepreneur, focus on providing great service. And, remember, it ok to earn a living.

If you are one of my idea clients, you ought to expect to receive great service from us entrepreneurs.

Gratitude Mentored for Momentum Coaching
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image of valley seen through a crystal ball on a rock ledge

Mindful Reflection

Posted by Carolyn on
 May 29, 2023

image of valley seen through a crystal ball on a rock ledgeWhile mindfulness is designed to create awareness in the moment, mindful reflection gives us an opportunity to develop awareness of the past. That awareness give us the chance to look at something from a distance; to examine it from different angles.  And just maybe, we can see things from a different perspective.

Reflection

I was hunting for photos on Unsplash.com and Pixabay.com, my two favourite royalty free photography sites. My goal was to find a photo to illustrate the notion of paradigm for my Instagram account @caldwell_evolution (shameless plug for more followers). The photo of a crystal ball reflection caught by eye. While it was perfect for Instagram post I was working on, it also made me think of reflection.

Mindfulness instruction schools us to be aware, on purpose, in the moment without judgement. What if we could also be aware, on purpose, of the past without judgement? How is it that through mindfulness we allow ourselves to suspend judgement of our thoughts, habit or behaviours as they are happening and not in reflection? What’s wrong with looking back a little farther and seeing what cold be learned?

Mindfulness and Awareness and Reflection

So I wondered if Mindfulness could be applied to gain awareness and insight into things that had already happened.  Wouldn’t it be great to suspend judgement for things we realize from the past along with the here and now. And like the crystal ball reflection, could we use the reflection to turn things upside down and see them from a different angle.

Perspectivelooking at the upside down reflection through a crystal ball of a beach and water

So much of the productivity coaching I do is supporting clients to see how their perspective may be influencing their ability to move forward on their goals and dreams. A perspective of success, opportunity, positive thinking, excitement and anticipation usually leads to moving forward with the same eagerness. More negative thinking usually leads forward with frustration, failure and limited accomplishment.

Using mindful reflection to look back on a situation, without judgement, help us develop awareness without criticizing ourselves. That lack of judgement makes for a better chance to learn. What if our paradigm needed a shift? Is there a different way to look at the situation? Could turning the picture upside down and give us a different angle? What was there to see?

The Crystal Ball Reflection

Maybe I ought to have titled this post The Crystal Ball reflection. That special reflective dynamic automatically turns things upside down.  What looks the same or different? Does something feel the same or different? What would you do more of? What would you do differently? That awareness without judgement is key to creating meaningful change.

Clarity I AM Evolution Coaching Productivity
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many clocks stacked on top of one another to show layering of time

Time Deepening: Lengthening Time with Layers

Posted by Carolyn on
 May 24, 2023

Time Deepening vs Multi-taskingwoman in green dress holding up clock over her face

Time deepening may be the solution to the ongoing question, “Does multi-tasking increase productivity?” It’s a question that comes up frequently in almost any conversation on time management.  If you live with teenagers, it may come up frequently.  Teenagers seem to have taken multi-tasking to new heights with ear buds, streaming, smart phone and homework all going at the same time.

I define multi-tasking as participating – at the same time – in two or more activities that each require our attention.  My experience is that multi-tasking does not work well.  Thus talking on the telephone and typing a report is multi-tasking. Similarly, making dinner while helping a school child with home work is multi-tasking; both require your attention in order to be completed.  If your attention is distracted from your task, it is unlikely that you will complete it well.  Your phone mate may perceive you are distracted or merely wait patiently for your attention to return to his/her question. The report may have errors.

What is Time Deepeningmany clocks stacked on top of one another to show layering of time

Time layering or time deepening is a strategy that does work.  I define time deepening as organizing two or more tasks that do not require our attention to be accomplished simultaneously.  In time deepening, only the top layer can take your attention while the other tasks are accomplished. Home managers have known this strategy for ages: wash the laundry and hang to dry – while drying, mix bread and leave to rise – while drying and rising cut beef/vegetables and set stew to simmer – while drying and simmering, knead bread and set to rise – while drying, simmering and rising, mend clothes.  Project managers differentiate between those tasks that must be accomplished in sequence.  These are time and order sensitive.  Other tasks tasks can be accomplished at the same time and therefore can be layering tasks.

If you work from home you may already layer your time without realizing that you are using this strategy: put on laundry, take out dinner meat to thaw, set coffee to drip, turn sprinkler on lawn – pour coffee, set to work on report.  One hour later you turn over laundry, turn over meat, move sprinkler to back lawn, refill coffee and back to report.

You get the picture.  Try it.  How many layers can you build into your time? 

Organizing Students Organizing Time
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