05 January 2007

We are at the start of another year!

January 2008
Things have been hectic this last year, and looking back we very often wonder what we have achieved, having rushed from one task, one assignment, to the next. Continuous pressure has dictated our actions – our lives – for almost 12 straight months!

This feeling of wheel spinning, going all out at a frenetic pace, and getting nowhere, is one of the most frustrating emotions we feel in today’s business world. It leads to all sorts of complications on a personal level, from depression through to physical illness! But what can we do about it?

There is no need to wait for some calendar event to pause, refresh, and then move on.

To maintain the harmony in our lives we need to continuously pause, refresh, and then move on – we need to habitually take time out to be alone with ourselves every day of our lives!
According to Ad Age Magazine, the slogan introduced for Coca-Cola in 1929 – “The Pause That Refreshes” - was the third best advertising slogan of the 21st Century. The advertisement for a chocolate-coated wafer that said – “Take a break… have a Kit Kat” was equally as powerful! It is very clear as to why these two ads were such great slogans, because the message they deliver is one we can, and should, employ in our personal and professional lives with much greater meaning and much better results than we would achieve by simply drinking a carbonated beverage or eating a chocolate-coated wafer.

Here are five ways we can take a pause to refresh ourselves and through that pause produce greater results …
1.Refresh your problem solving process: Solving a tough problem ... Feeling a bit stuck ... Not sure what to do next ... Take a break! A few minutes or a few days (depending on the size and urgency of your problem) away will refresh and reinvigorate you in ways that might not seem possible. When we take our focus away from solving a problem or challenge we allow our subconscious mind to continue working unimpeded by our consciousness. Remember, your subconscious operates thousands of times faster than your conscious mind! This is a very practical strategy that you can employ with great results.

2.Refresh your plan: Whether you are considering your daily agenda or to-do list - or your long-term goal - you need to stop, reflect and reload. Take a few minutes at the start of each day to review your major goals for the day - those things you plan to accomplish and cross off your list. Taking a short break from “doing the work” to “review the plan” will pay off throughout the day. Then, as the day progresses, take a look at your progress. These short breaks will help you refocus and re-strategise ­adjusting for the inevitable changes that have occurred during the day. Of course the same holds true for your long-term goals - reviewing them often is a pause from “doing” that will pay huge dividends in the long run.

3.Refresh a presentation: As professionals we will often give presentations. One of the most important things to include in any presentation is some silent time - a pause. A pause changes the pace of a presentation and gives our listeners a chance to soak up an important point. It allows them time to answer a question in their mind. It gives them the chance to be persuaded. Don't fill every second with the sound of your voice. Give people some mental space.

4.Refresh a meeting or training session: Regardless of how absorbing or important a training session or a meeting is, people need a break. They need to stretch their legs, they need to step away from the process - they need to pause. Great trainers and presenters know that a well-timed break can improve retention of the material being learned. Outstanding facilitators know that people need some mental space in the course of an important meeting to stay mentally fresh and to make sure the best ideas are being generated.

5.Refresh everything! Some pauses need to be longer than others. We need to create the short pauses in our lives, but we also need to make time for the longer pauses too: Time spent on a favorite hobby; Time spent reading; Time spent with an old friend; Time spent at the spa; A day trip; A weekend get­away; A full-blown holiday. Time away mentally, emotionally and physically can create fresh perspectives, new connections and renewed mental freedom that seems impossible when we have our head down working at full throttle all the time.

Before you return to your next task or read the next thing on your list, take a short break! Pause for a minute and think about what you have just read. How could a pause have aided you in the recent past?

While a Coke or a chocolate-coated wafer might help, these pauses will refresh you in deeper and more meaningful ways - without the caffeine or calories. Remember, a break - or even a deep breath - has the power to refresh your approach and your attitude catapulting you to greater success.
Tip:
Resolve to make greater use breaks and pauses more regularly, and effectively. Plan the time into your day. Make it a habit and practice it religiously for the rest of your life!

( Thanks to www.streetsmart.co.za )