Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007, 4:30pm-6pm
Central Pacific Bank, Kahului, HI

Feeling tired?
Stressed?
Do you feel overwhelmed?
Do you want to start LIVING instead of just surviving?

Break the cycle of stress and burnout by taking time out and practicing Self-Care. Learn ways to prepare your mind, body and spirit for times of stress. These tools are used for a quick pick-me-up or for long term balance and relaxation.

* * * * * EVENT DETAILS * * * * *

DATE: Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007
TIME: 4:30pm - 6:00pm (Program starts at 5:00pm)
LOCATION: Central Pacific Bank, Wailuku Branch
REGISTRATION INFO: RSVP to Desiree Ting (808-249-2574) or desiree.ting@centralpacificbank.com
RSVP by Friday, May 18th, 2007

The workbook “25 Ways to Make More Time,” takes you step by step through the process of changing your current time habits to better, more efficient ones that work for you. Before taking on new tools and implementing more strategies in your life for better time management, it is important to first determine what has NOT been working and WHY. Time is not something that is managed, per se, we manage ourselves within the time that we have - 24 hours in every day.

The first step is to log your time and see what you are currently doing with your time. You canʼt fix what you donʼt know is broken!

For at least three days (up to a week), log your time throughout the whole day, do not wait til the end of the day. Be specific. In three columns, write:

(1) The time;
(2) The activity;
(3) How long it takes to do the activity.

Log everything, from a 1-minute phone call to a 2 hour lunch.

After three days, you will get a sense of how your time is being utilized throughout the day and where changes may need to take place. Ask yourself:

What are you doing in your day that is NOT working? What IS working?
Next to each activity, write out how you could have done things better.

Contact Susan at info@susankimcoaching.com to find out more about “25 Ways to Make More Time”

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Personal Development, Business Development, Resources, Action

Ready or not, here comes life!

Time seems to be elusive because we never know for certain what will happen in our day. Life happens. One of the reasons to be ready when “life happens” is so you can live the life you truly want by focusing on what is important. One of the keys to being ready for life is good organization.

Being organized may start with a clean desk or properly scheduling your day (see March Issue, Business Hot Tips), but it really means being able to handle ANYTHING that comes your way with little or no stress. Organization is most beneficial when things go awry. When something unexpected happens or life takes a “detour,” it is very easy to spot DIS-organization. It looks like stress, chaos and is just messy. Space is cluttered, feelings are overwhelmed and the mind races in circles trying to get its bearings.

Being organized enables you to look at the unexpected situation, take a side step (or even a step back), decide on what needs to be done, do it and keep moving forward. Organization helps you focus on what is important.

Get Organized - Get Focused - Get Ready for Life

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Decision Making

There is a direct relationship with your commitment (what you put in) and benefit (what you get out). The more you commit to something, the more you will reap the benefits of your energy and efforts. This principle is true for almost everything: relationships, sports, work, community service, business, personal development, etc.

In order to create time for yourself, you have to commit, invest the time and apply the strategies that work for you (see Business Hot Tips). Oftentimes the difference between struggling and succeeding in time management is simply investing the time to implement the tools you already know.

“The challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.”
Stephen Covey

“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Yoda

BUSINESS HOT TIP: 5 Easy Ways To Create More Time1. Get the big picture. Spend 1 hour at the beginning of each week to organize your schedule. Prioritize the activities.

2. Daily Check. Give yourself time each day, for at least 5 minutes to review and revise your schedule. Keeps the most important things in the forefront.

3. Clean Desk. Always leave your office with a clean desk. Compare how you feel in the morning coming to a clean desk versus piles of “to-doʼs”

4. Keep Focus. Have only one project on your desk at any given time - the highest priority task. It is a simple step to maintain focus.

5. Work by the Hour. Use blocks of 60-90 minutes. It takes time to settle down and start working productively. Work with no (or limited) distractions.

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Focus, Decision Making

Where does all the time go? Does it hide in the cracks on the floor? Does it seep out the window when no one is looking?

The idea of time “hiding” or “running away” may seem silly. However, as intangible as time may be, it is often defined through very tangible and measureable ways - through our goals. Throughout the day if we accomplish a lot, it is described as “good use of time.” On the other hand, if our wheels have been spinning all day and nothing was completed, we call it “a waste of time.”

Time is given value by what is accomplished, so letʼs think of time in relation to our goals or our vision. Distractions throughout the day are a big time drain. These diversions are simply a detachment away from our goals. If you want to lessen distractions and make “better use of your time,” reduce or take out actions that do not move you toward your goal.

Discovery Tip: Always move toward your goals

1. First, write down your goals and that you would like to accomplish.

2. Prioritize them so that you can readily identify the most important goals for yourself.

3. Write down WHY that goal is important to you right now.

4. Describe HOW you are going to achieve that goal.

5. When distracted, ask yourself, does this move you toward or away from your goals?

6. Also ask yourself, by taking this action what is the impact on my goals or vision?

Utilize these five steps and you will slowly plug up the time drain and find that you are pulling more time out of the cracks!

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Organization, Priorities, Goals, Strategy, Decision Making

Trap #5. GAINING WEIGHT
Yes, we all like to eat and we all know that the holidays will fill our every carbo-craving from mashed potatoes to pumpkin pie, fromcandy corn to stuffing. It’s not just the carbo-loading. . . it’s also the AMOUNT of food we tend to eat.

TIP: Eat, then exercise. Go ahead and eat that second dessert or have the extra helping of potatoes, but then make up for it by going for a long evening walk (at least an hour) or start a football game with your family. You’ll find the exercise refreshing and perhaps be able to spend a little more quality time with friends and family instead of rushing to the next holiday obligation!

Trap #4. TOO MANY OBLIGATIONS
It wouldn’t be the holidays without parties, events, shows, fundraisers - the busy lifestyle. Some people thrive on the pace,
so to those people I say, HAVE FUN! But others may wear themselves down. . .

TIP: It’s okay to say no. If you’re finding that you are spinning your wheels and you’re just not having any fun with the obligations, say no. Skip one event that you really do NOT want to go to and do something you KNOW you enjoy – whether it’s watching a movie, gardening, spending time with your own family or staying at home. What’s the point of ringing holiday cheer with people if you’re not enjoying the moment or the company?

Trap #3. SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY
The holidays leave you with a full stomach and an empty wallet. You don’t have to stress about finances every time the holidays roll around – you can start planning today for this year AND next!

TIP: Organize all your holiday spending lists - gifts, events, fundraising events, etc. – figure out the cost for each item and then a total. Determine a budget for how much you are ABLE to spend. If they match or you have more in your budget than you want to spend, you’re golden! However, if your budget falls short of what you need there are two things you can do:
1) change your budget and allot more money or
2) cut something(s) out.
Either way it’s up to you and you have to make a decision and accept it. The added benefit of knowing what you want to spend now is that you can plan for next year and reduce potential stress.

Trap #2. FORGETTING YOUR SELF
Buy gifts for everyone, check.
Send holiday cards out, check.
Plan and invite everyone to holiday party, check.
You’ve taken care of everyone and everything else, now it’s time to put your feet up and relax. Pamper your self a little.

TIP: Do something for yourself. Buy yourself a present. Reward yourself with that extra sugary, creamy pumpkin spice
latte with whipped cream (and then take that walk) Or simply, spend 10 minutes with yourself, relaxing, taking a nap, soaking your feet. Remember yourself and give your Self a little bit of that holiday cheer that you’re spreading to everyone else.

Trap #1. GETTING THE HOLIDAY BLUES
Amidst all of the holiday festivities and gatherings of the Holiday Hurricane, sometimes, the whirlwind brings about
the Holiday Blues – missing people, regretting what we have not accomplished in this last year, getting older, and the natural change that comes with the new year. Sometimes it might be a short riff, but for others it may a long improvised Blues solo that lasts through to the new year. Unfortunately it’s human nature to focus on what is “lacking.”

TIP: Focus on what you HAVE and not on what you do NOT have. Focus on who is with you NOW, instead of thinking of those that can’t be with you. Think back to the beginning of the year and think of all the things that you HAVE accomplished this year – recall where you started and how far you’ve come. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place where we begin to focus on what we lack. Instead of singing the blues about the things that “have not,” be thankful for EVERYTHING that “IS.”

Technorati Tags: Stress and Overwhelm, Balance, Organization, Self Care, Holiday, Appreciation