Monday 2/14/20
Hope everyone was able to create a Winter schedule that works for you and helps you move forward with your goals!
What are you going to do during the two weeks of Winter break?
Have you been able to get off your tush? If yes, yay for you and give yourself a pat on the back. If not, perhaps it’s self doubt getting in your way. Watch the video below and determine if fear is holding you back and use the strategies to overcome your fear.
- Trust yourself that you are on the right path and you have the power to create change.
- Prioritize mental wellness.
- Take baby steps.
If fear is the only thing holding you back, that’s not a good enough reason and just do it!
There are two ways to do thing, right and again!
Let’s review what we learned this term. The video below summarizes it well:
- Do not rely on your brain to remember what you need to do
- Label things so you can find them later
- Create a mind map of your dependencies so that you can practice the mindfulness loop to think ahead and avoid crisis. Use the example from the video as a guide.
- Two is one and one is none. Have back up’s of really important things.
- Use the organization system that works for you.
- Make sure all your things “have a home” where they live.
- Be deliberate on what you own, buy and keep.
Monday 12/7/20
Hope everyone was able to create a Winter schedule that works for you and helps you move forward with your goals!
Think of 5 things you need to do. Use the flow chart below to determine what you are going to do or not do about it.
Monday 11/30/20
Do you struggle with getting to places on time? Too early? Let’s reverse engineer how long it really takes to prepare.
Monday 11/23/20
Adjust your schedules! Thanksgiving is this week and we don’t have school on Thursday or Friday. What will you do with your four day weekend?
How do you stay motivated?
For each of the “motivators” below write a specific thing that will motivate YOU. Be prepared to share with the group. I started the first one as an example.
Compliments: I tell myself “you’re a rock star” when I kick ass. I did a great job, I’m a hard worker, I put effort into that, for every dis you give yourself make sure you give yourself two compliments
Respect for Responsibilities you have accepted: I take care of my cat so they are not thirsty or hungry, I take care of my guinea pig and clean his cage, emptying dishwasher,
Enjoyment: play a game, call a friend, eat, go outside, take a picture, do a craft, engage in a preferred activity, either before or after your work
Positive Attitude – I can do this, gratitude, think of what life would be like without the chore
Money: how much your need, what I can buy myself that I want,
Accomplishment – feeling like you can do it, proud of yourself
Sense of Purpose – what is your basic motivation, what are your values,
Keeping Busy – sometimes when I focused doing I’m not thinking about worrying
Sense of Pride – proud of parenting, proud of attendance, graduating HS, meditating every day
Personal Standards – what you want you environment to be
Changing Situation– you have to because you have no choice, moving, getting older, needing to support yourself, going to therapy, you lose your job, pandemic
Judgment or Others Expectations of you – what other need from you that is reasonable
Inspiration from others successes –positive role models
Monday 11/16/20
Coronavirus is surging and Oregon is in “shut down” mode. This does have to mean that all your important progress stops. Be creative on how you can keep moving forward in the ways you can control.
Just do it, reward yourself, schedule things to do when you are at your best, set reminders so you don’t forget, caffeine, be healthy
Let’s finish the time conflict scenarios below.
Let’s create your ideal schedule. You can use any weekly planner that works for you or use the template from your time management matrix. Try to spend most of your time in the important/not urgent quadrant.
Use page three of the time management matrix. Create your ideal schedule. The trick is to change your habits and follow your ideal.
Monday 11/9/20
At this point you have learned how to prioritize your tasks and tracked how you spend your time. You have analyzed how you spend your current time. Do you have a good work/recreation balance? Excellent! But, if you don’t lets create a schedule that helps you find that balance. But first, here are some common unexpected time management conflict a person might experience.
- You are getting ready to go food shopping and your friend calls and wants to have a cup of coffee with you. What can you do?
Tell them you have a chore to do and schedule a time, have them join you and then get coffee, meet them after grocery shopped, invite them over for coffee afterwards, postpone grocery shopping,
- You and your friend are texting each other and trying to decide what movie to see later. You can’t come to an agreement and you have to catch a bus in 10 minutes. What can you do?
if you can’t come to an agreement, lets talk about it later, review the schedule, choose another plan if you can’t agree, decide at the movie theatre, have them pick another friend to see that movie with, pick a genre and cull the list, compromise,
- Your desk drawer is too full and won’t close. What can you do?
clean it out, does it spark you joy and if not remove it, put organizers in the desk, remove or recycle unused stuff, find an under utilized drawer and divide contents, Marie Kondo to inspire you
- You keep mixing up your seminar times and show up when you don’t need to and miss classes you want to attend. What can you do?
put your schedule in your phone calendar, use phone reminders, take a screen shot of schedule and then be prepared, be kind to yourself when you make a mistake, check the school website, make it a priority,
- Your friend is trying to write their assignment in class and you keep telling them about what happened to you this weekend. What can you do?
try to move away, observe what is happening, stop distracting and try to focus, realize not the time and place, catch up later when it is the right time, realize that if people ask you not to distract them that it is not a insult, be professional
- You have a weekly meeting with your housemates to discuss chores. Shirley takes 10 minutes to tell everyone about a cat she saw outside. What can you do?
ask if we could talk about it later, remind them its off topic, write a schedule of agenda topics, create a meeting leader, set a time, share what the group needs, why are they talking about off topic?, talk to them later, be respectful of other time,
- You are playing a video game and it’s a beautiful day outside and it’s your goal to improve you physical fitness. What can you do?
take it with you to a different environment, just go outside; do an exercise game; stretch; yoga; go on a walk; turn it off; go outside with somebody; limit time on game; have a automatic shut off;
- You and your friend are trying to fix a car. You are good at working on transmissions and your friend is good at working on engines. You have plans to work on the car three times a week together, but your friend only shows up once or twice a week. What can you do?
text reminders, gentle reminders, communicate about why schedule not working, compromise, ask them if they are really interested in the project, possibly change project, reduce the amount of time dedicated to it, set a deadline,
- You are planning on going food shopping, but you just found out that your dog escaped from the house. What can you do?
postpone food shopping and find the dog, call local shelter, social media posting, good with communication with neighbors, put signs up in neighborhood, ask someone else in your household to find them, delegate
Use page three of the time management matrix. Create your ideal schedule. The trick is to change your habits and follow your ideal.
Monday 11/2/20
We are working on analyzing your schedule tracker! Hope you were able to put in all the wonderful activities you do each day. Take some time to look at how you spend your time. Tally how much sleep you get a day, how much time you spend doing daily living activities, work, school and leisure time. Do you have a good work/recreation balance?
https://desktime.com/blog/17-52-ratio-most-productive-people/
To help yourself be more productive try the 52:17 rule. This says for every 52 minutes of work you should take a break for 17 minutes and then get back at it. If you are spending too much time working, try taking a break. If you are spending too much time taking a break, get back to work!
How will you adjust your schedule based on how you spend your time? Get a blank copy of the schedule tracker and create a schedule that reflects a better use of your time.
Use page three of the time management matrix. Create your ideal schedule.
Monday 10/26/20
I can’t believe it’s almost Halloween!
Did you complete your weekly schedule tracker? We will have some time to work on it today.
When completed, did you see if you are spending too much time in the Not important/not urgent category or are putting effort into the important/not urgent quadrant?
Just do it! is my favorite was to avoid procrastination, but here are some more strategies:
EIGHT WAYS TO STOP PROCRASTINATING NOW
What can you do to accomplish more of what you want to do? Here are some immediate suggestions:
- Choose the easiest place to start
You don’t always have to start at the beginning. If that first step seems the hardest, start with another part of the project instead.
- Fix your workspace
If your set-up is simply not convenient, it will definitely hold you back.
- Work from your to-do list
Tackle the more difficult tasks during your prime time.
- Be realistic about what you can do
Procrastinators often have an unrealistic sense of time; you may have the feeling that a project will take forever or that you have “plenty of time.” The more realistic you become, the less likely you’ll be to procrastinate.
- Use the minutes available to you
Remember that even five minutes is enough time to get something done. One or two phone calls or more can be returned in that time.
- Reward yourself
After you meet small deadlines, promise yourself a small treat. When the entire project is completed, think on a little grander scale.
- Create more time
If it seems like there really is no time, carve out a half hour or so from your existing schedule. If you really want to take up jogging, try getting up a half hour earlier each day (or on weekends). If you want to do it, you’ll find the time.
- Get started
The hardest part is getting started. Once you’re in motion, it will be easier to keep going. You may well find that it isn’t as bad as you expected, and once you’re involved, you’ve overcome the highest hurdle.
Monday 10/19/20
Have you been to all of your scheduled activities on time? If so, congratulations!
Your away work was to clink on the link below and read the first page. Create a list of at least 10 things you want to do. Keep it simple and varied. Pick some chores, tasks and fun things. Categorize them into urgent and not urgent, then decide if they are important or not important. Complete the blank grid on the second page with your activities to sort them out.
Your away work is to track how you actually spend your time. Use page three of the time management matrix. This is a BIG job and do your best. Next week we will take a look at how you spend your time and assess if there need to be some adjustments.
Monday 10/12/20
Review progress on the task you have to accomplish
Clink on the link below and read the first page. Create a list of at least 10 things you want to do. Keep it simple and varied. Pick some chores, tasks and fun things. Categorize them into urgent and not urgent, then decide if they are important or not important. Complete the blank grid on the second page with your activities to sort them out.
Your away work is to track how you actually spend your time. Use page three of the time management matrix. This is a BIG job and do your best. Next week we will take a look at how you spend your time and assess if there need to be some adjustments.
Monday 10/5/20
Review away work:
Decide on one task that you have to accomplish this week and create a plan to follow through.
- My task is:
- My task will take __________ amount of time (give yourself extra time)
- I will complete my task on (day)
- I will complete my task at (time frame)
- Do I need help with this task? If so, when is your helper available?
- How will I remind myself?
- Be ready to report back to the group next week on your progress.
Lets brain storm a list of different tasks that need to be completed
laundry, clean room, take care of animals, sleeping (not enough, or too much, wrong times) eating, drinking water, doctor appointments, work, school, recreation, family, friends, homework, cleaning, emotional check in with self, events you need to attend, exercise, hobbies, meetings, art, music, self care, brushing teeth, budgeting, paying bills, landscaping
Away work: Complete the activity above (1-7) either changing your strategy if it didn’t work, or making the task more complicated
Read the time Management sheet below and next week we will start sorting the tasks into Important/not important and Urgent/Not urgent
Monday 9/28/20
Welcome to the first day of class!
Students share scheduling triumphs and problems.
We will review our Connections web site to help us schedule our week. Please click through the Connections Fall Term tab to get information and learn how to navigate to your classes.
Does everyone have a Connections schedule? Contact case manager if you don’t have one
How will you keep track of your classes? Brain storm different ways to track schedules.
Paper planner – Monthly, Daily planner, academic, professional, wall calendar, note pad, post its, to do lists, wall reminders, bathroom mirror
Technology – phone calendar, google calendar, email calendar, click memo, notes, google notes, alarms, reminders, email, text reminders, alexa, google home, timers
Other methods: other to help us remember, dream about schedule, leave an object to remind you in an obvious area, staging area, remember, muscle memory, routine habits, rituals,
Look through the Connections calendar
Be sure to contact the teacher through email or text to say if you will be absent or late. Join the zoom meeting 5 minutes before your class.
Decide on one task that you have to accomplish this week and create a plan to follow through.
- My task is:
- My task will take __________ amount of time (give yourself extra time)
- I will complete my task on (day)
- I will complete my task at (time frame)
- Do I need help with this task? If so, when is your helper available?
- How will I remind myself?
- Be ready to report back to the group next week on your progress.