Someone in your office coughed and now everyone is asked to work remotely. So, now you must figure out how to successfully work from home. For many people working in an office environment provides much needed structure and can be a place with fewer distractions – or at least different kinds of distractions. So, how can you create a suitable work environment in your living or dining room?

How many times does each of us experience someone’s phone going off in a public place we are at? Often, right? Most of us take the time to click the correct button to make the device not ring, or even vibrate. However, some are uncertain just what button they can or should use to not totally turn off their phone, and then there are those who simply don’t care. Granted it does take time for a smartphone to start up again, which can be annoying, so an alternative to just switching it off and on again all day long is a good idea.

Most of us get behind on our plans for the day at some point – and from my experience in coaching thousands on time management – one issue crops up constantly which can become the culprit: NOT making time for everything related to a task. The little ‘extra’ steps are really necessary in order to be truly done with something or to make that task more effective.

How many of you make a list of tasks to accomplish and never really check things off that list? Maybe you procrastinate; or perhaps you run out of time; or maybe you don’t like what is on the list and avoidance behaviors set in.

Many of us are familiar with the thought, “I can do that later, I have other things I want to do now instead.” It’s quite possible most of us put off something we don’t want to do right now, and for a variety of reasons. Most people know the humorous saying, “Why do now what you can put off until tomorrow” but have you ever really thought about the negative ramifications about your procrastination?

It’s undeniable:

Today, we feel more stressed than ever at work…According to CareerCast’s 2019 report, 79% of America’s workforce feels stressed ‘sometimes or frequently’ during their working day. From longer working hours to being bombarded by late night emails, we live in a demanding work culture.

But there’s a solution:

Some careers come with a calming working environment and a better work life balance – and still pay surprisingly well. So here’s our list of the top 25 best low stress jobs for people with anxiety…

I recently watched a very funny, and somewhat unfortunate TEDTalk® video by a guy who discussed his life-long problems with procrastination (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU). Nothing new to me here as almost everyone I coach – okay, most everyone I know (me included) – deals with procrastination on some level. The speaker put a humorous spin on it, which made the audience laugh, as it was very relatable for just about everyone. However he never really spoke about solutions.

You know exactly what I am talking about. You probably know these people…or perhaps you are this person. How can you tell if you are actually being productive versus just seemingly very busy all day long?

For many of us, thoughts of the coming new year bring ideas on ways to improve life and what we want to change from what life has been like – or perhaps continue the good we have already experienced. Whichever camp you are in – contemplation of what you want is probably crossing your mind on some level. I know it is for me.

If you want to learn how to manage time – stop for a moment and read this:

Firstly, understand you are not managing time – it manages itself just fine, thank you very much, and you can use or waste it as you wish – that will not affect time one iota. What you CAN manage is what you do in that time.

I saw this timely quote on a kitchen magnet at a relative’s home that I had escaped to during the terrible Thomas Fire currently raging on Southern California.