7 Strategies for Getting the Most Out of Coaching

Elaine About, Journaling, Productivity, Relationships

Coaching is an investment. An investment in YOU. And like any investment, you want to get the most out of the time and money you put into it.

When I first started seeing coaching clients, I discovered that some people have a huge misconception about what it takes to get great results from coaching.

Many people thought that the magic was in finding the right coach.

Certainly that's important. You want someone who's skilled. You want someone you can really connect with. And you want someone whose style and experience are a good fit for you and your situation.

But that's not the magic ingredient.... See More

Worry About the Bunnies in the Room, Not the Elephant

Elaine Productivity, Relationships

Stop worrying about the "elephant in the room". Bunnies are much more common.

I've facilitated a lot of meetings for groups that aren't quite functioning up to their potential.

Sometimes the problem is indeed "the elephant in the room" — there's a major issue that folks are upset about, but no one is acknowledging or talking about it.

But far more often, what's holding the group back is "the bunny in the room". A really fuzzy angora bunny. (Or often several of them.)... See More

You vs. Your Chair: Who's Winning?

Elaine Body, Mind, Productivity, Work

This post is as much for me as it is for you.

A couple years ago, I lost almost 40 pounds through some wise lifestyle changes:

switching to an entirely plant-based diet (i.e., vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains)
vowing to stop drinking my calories (ditching fancy espresso drinks and switching to water and unsweetened tea instead)
infusing regular exercise into my routine

I have to be honest, though. I backslid over the past year and at one point had gained almost 10 of those pounds back.

The very clear reason was this: ... See More

Are You a Willpower Weakling? Here's How to Win the Battle Anyway

Elaine Mind, Productivity

The story of how Willard quit smoking is legendary in our family.

He had started smoking as a teenager in the 1950's, picking up the habit while working as a caddy with his friends. They would hide cigarettes in a haystack where they could pick them up on their way to the golf course.

By the time he was a young professional, married and working as an economist, cigarettes had become a constant accessory. They dangled from his mouth or from his hand whether he was at work, at home, in the car, out with friends, or elsewhere.

His addiction eventually had him smoking up to a pack and a half a day.

And then something changed in his life. ... See More

Why You Need an Infrastructure Week — Plus 8 Simple Tips on How to Make It Happen

Elaine Productivity

Twice a year, I block off a week on my calendar for "Infrastructure Week".

No meetings, no work for clients, very little email. Instead, I spend the whole week focused on things that will allow me to operate more smoothly and effectively during the other 50 weeks of the year. ... See More

5 Ways to Shrink Your To Do List

Elaine Mind, Productivity, Relationships

My last post was about recognizing overwhelm before it gets out of control.

I shared a list of mental, physical, and environmental clues to watch for as early warning signs that things are getting too intense.

Because not only does that over-intensity damage our sense of peace and well-being, it also sets us up for failure. We can't think, work, or relate to others as effectively when we feel like we're drowning.

But once you've recognized that you've gotten to that stage and desperately need to take some things off your list, what do you do?... See More

How to Recognize When You've Taken Too Much On

Elaine Body, Mind, Productivity, Work

I'm normally a sunny, glass-half-full kind of person. A "gosh am I lucky to do the kind of work I do" sort of person. I get excited about my latest project, eager to dive in, and utterly absorbed by what I'm working on.

So I knew something was up when a cloud of gloom and hopelessness descended upon me recently.

Actually, I knew exactly what was up. That is my classic response to Too-Many-Things-On-My-List Syndrome.... See More

The Free Tool That Saved Me From Email Overwhelm, Plus 6 Tips for How to Get the Most Out of It

Elaine Productivity

It happens to even the best of us every once in a while.

Hundreds of messages piled up in your inbox:

a jumble of things you keep meaning to tend to,
stuff you're waiting for,
things you want to be able to reference later,
and messages you've frankly forgotten about because they've become lost in the clutter.

In contrast, I've had "inbox zero" as an ongoing goal for myself for a long time now.

Until this year, I achieved that goal every once in a while, but it wasn't nearly as often as I would have liked. Nowadays, it's a regular occurrence.

Why? NudgeMail.

Read on for more information about what it is, plus examples and tips on how to use it.
... See More