Organize

What do you have in mind today?

Most people will think of the things that needs to be done today. But have you forgotten about the things that are still undone from yesterday? There are so many things each person have to handle every single day. How do people get by and still have time for fun?

Are you a person who has to scramble through things every single day just to finish a task? How much time do you need to find something you need? How does your desk look like? How anyone lives through their daily lives really depends very much on the person and has got nothing to do with the aesthetics of what our eyes can see.

Some people live great in a total mess. These are called the creative bunch. We may see papers everywhere, totally disorganized and we get a headache but for them, this is their way to higher understanding. If one day, you cleared up their desk, they would have a hard time looking for that one thing that they need at that very moment. If left in a mess, it would just take them seconds. If all organized up, it would probably take them hours if not days, and in some cases, they may not even be able to locate it in their entire lifetime.

Some people need space for clarity. If things are in a mess, they cannot function at all. They need everything to be organized. You will see that their desk is often empty you really wonder how anything can get done. Where are the notes? Where are the “to do” lists? Where are the plans? Everything is just not there for anyone to look for. If someone puts something on their desk, they would be freaked and they immediately want it off. So, they get on is in the speed of light and then leave their desk empty again. There would probably be files upon files elsewhere as long as the desk is empty.

Most people are a little bit of both. You are probably the messy person when you are busy and the tidy person when you have a little time to get organized.

It is perhaps the greatest feeling of all to get things lifted off your shoulders. It makes you feel light. How you want to do it depends on the task itself and how you actually organize its route to finishing. Sometimes, drastic measures are necessary.

Humans are social animals. We need to live amongst other people and get things done together. Even if you are an introvert, there is no avoiding human contact. Even if we are all in a lockdown, there is no avoiding communication between each other. Everything needs to be planned out strategically in order for anything to work out the way it should. Time will tell that if we work together as a team, we are stronger.

A team means there is a leader. The leader is responsible to get things organized and moving. A great leader will plan small tasks for each member of the group. A great leader knows who is best at each task. A great leader gives opportunities. A great leader encourages brain storming. A great leader builds paths for exploration and enhancement. It is all about how well the person can deal with situations in a strategic way.

You may have thoughts that the current situation do not permit any organization because it is ad-hoc and of high urgency that needs to be done this very second. Sometimes, you just need to jump into action before even having the time to think. This happens all the time in stocks and business where decisions a second later can mean a total disaster. It is okay during that urgent time. Have you ever thought what needs to be done afterwards? Most people forget this. Post-mortem. When you have been stripped off your rights to think then, you think afterwards. Can it be done better? Is there another path to take? How to tackle such situations in future? These are all very important information for the entire team so that when you are not there to guide them through, they can function as they should.

Think the way successful people do. Organize your thoughts to help others help you.

 

Once you have a clear idea of your priorities – that is your values, goals and high leverage activities, organize around them.

Stephen Richards Covey (Stephen Covey), American educator and speaker, 1932-2012

Mind

What is considered important?

Day in day out we encounter with many people, things and events. How do we determine what is of utmost importance and what is not? We are always placed with many choices, most of which are quite ambiguous at the beginning. Over a certain period of time, we will be able to determine with clarity.

From the start of the global lockdown this year, many people have become panicked by the whole situation of non-physical communication. Humans are social animals. When everyone have to stay home, everyone started complaining. They love the outside world. The moment they cannot leave their homes, they feel like they are being confined in a small space. Perhaps these people are not thinking through at that very moment. After a while, everyone start to find means and ways to continue their livelihood.

Technology is a must for communication in such circumstance. People start to realize that there are many things they can do with their computers and phones. The world of telecommunication thrive when other businesses flop. The world of e-commerce booms when no physical shops are allowed to open. The world of delivery services become so busy they create better opportunities for the lower income people. Whenever there is a crisis, humans adapt. We are all built in such that we can overcome any challenges that comes our way.

How did you fare?

There is no doubt that some human brains work faster than others. We must understand one thing that we all are born with the same set of packaging. However we want to utilize what we have is entirely up to us. How often have you asked yourself these questions instead of just blaming something else?

What is it that other people are doing that I am not?
Instead of I am born in a terrible family so my life is as such.

What is it that I can do to achieve my dreams?
Instead of I do not like to study so my life is screwed.

What is it that makes me shine with the capabilities that I have?
Instead of I am not great with communicating with other people so I am done.

Most often, we end up blaming ourselves for not having certain qualities that other people have. Why is it that we love to blame ourselves? Perhaps we have not been enlightened. Perhaps we feel stuck somehow. Perhaps we have created a bubble to contain ourselves from seeing the opportunities that is available to us.

It is not what you are born with that is important. It is what you choose to do with your life that makes you who you are. There is no need to compare but every need to learn from the best. If you are all about comparing yourself with the successful bunch, you really should find out the whole story of how they earn what they have now. People just love to see success on the surface. Have you ever dug deep? Is it deep enough to uncover the truth behind the success of other people?

Nature has plenty to teach us. If you observe nature properly, you will notice that every event that happens in our lives, happens for a reason. There is a theory that many people are talking about lately.

The ICEBERG effect.

What is this all about? Do you know the nature of an iceberg? You only see it as a small icy island on top of the freezing ocean. How much do you know about the iceberg? How much has the iceberg gone through in order to build that tiny little island that you and I can see? Whatever that is visible is just a speck of what lays beneath. Whatever that is supporting the island is not seen. If you take a dive under, you will notice that this tiny island is not so tiny after all. There is a huge mass supporting from the bottom. Notice all the creases and cracks. Notice that what you cannot see is a bigger story that what is readily visible.

Whatever little success one achieve tells many stories of the ups and downs in life. Be realistic, life is never a smooth ride. Open up your mind for the bigger picture.

 

You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace.

Francis McCourt, Irish-American teacher and writer, 1930-2009

Routine

What do you do when you wake up late on a work day?

Each one of us have our daily routines that we do that seem important day in day out. But there will be days that we find ourselves too tired to wake up on time in the morning and having to pick and choose which routines that we must complete before we really get out that door to head to work.

How do you determine which activities you must do?

First things first, the toilet visit is a must. We must clear ourselves of the toxins that our body worked hard to collect over the entire night while we are asleep. No matter how rushed life is, we must remember to remove unnecessary things out from our body in order to function well for the rest of the day. One must never skip toilet visits, especially the first one in the morning.

What else is there that we must do before we walk out that door?

Some people have very simple routines. Wake up. Get cleaned and they are good to go. However, most people with families have more complicated routines in the morning. There will be some that needs to prepare breakfast and pack lunch. There will be some that needs to water the garden and feed the pets. There will be some that need to take care of the young and elderly. We each have our own problems and difficulties to face every single time we open our eyes in the morning.

Sometimes, we tend to think of everything else before ourselves. If you have been on a plane, you would have heard of this very important announcement before the plane lifts off. In case of an emergency and the oxygen mask drops from your overhead, always put the mask on yourself before attending to others under your care. This announcement is very important as we always tend to care for everyone else before looking into ourselves.

Perhaps we have forgotten one very important point. We can only take care of everything else if we are in the proper position to doing so. Just imagine having to take care of your child, or your parents, or your pets during the time you are sick. How does that feel? Just imagine having to give positive advice to others when you yourself are having low self-esteem and out of confidence. Do you think you will be able to handle everything in a mindful way?

It is important to spend at least 20 minutes every morning to ponder upon yourself. This is the most important thing you must do every single morning whether you wake up early or late. It does not matter the time. It only matters the space. You need the space for yourself. You need to look within to move further. You need to first tend to yourself before helping others find their way. You need to be in good shape. This 20 minutes can be your daily stretches, or your daily meditation, or even your daily workouts. Just do it. It is only 20 minutes after all.

Great parents will say they need that 20 minutes to prepare breakfast for their children.
Great children will say they need that 20 minutes to care for their parents.
Plant lovers will say they need that 20 minutes to water their garden.
Pet lovers will say they need that 20 minutes to feed their pets.

We always have choices that we can make. How about taking that in between instead of sacrificing one or the other? Is it possible to take 10 minutes to yourself and 10 minutes for others? Give yourself time to uplift yourself. Give yourself time to think and be yourself. You will feel the difference, instead of just rushing through your already late morning routine. Is it possible for you to call in to your boss to inform that you woke up late this morning and that you will be late for work. Admit your fault. Your boss may be angry. You may get a warning for this misconduct but at least you are doing what is most important in life. You take care of yourself as well as the people close to you.

Waking up late is no excuse for self-ignorance. Any routine can be adjusted to fit whatever limited time one has.

 

Spontaneity-flexibility within a routine.

Marty Rubin, Self-titled aphorist, philosopher bum and happiness freak