Beyond The Madding Crowd

Organised Space

There is an old saying that states - “a tidy house is a tidy mind” – or in office terms this can be described as “an organised work space is a productive work space”.

Does this mean that if you prefer to work in what I call “organised chaos” (you know where everything is but someone else wouldn’t be able to find anything) that you cannot be productive? No, what I am suggesting is that for most people, working in a reasonably organised environment means there is less clutter to take up space in your brain and therefore allowing you to use you brain, time and energy on your work or business.

Keeping your work space in an organised manner can be difficult if you are working from home and if it is a shared space. Ideally the work space would be kept separate but I fully appreciate that space may be a premium for you therefore having a totally separate space may just not be physically possible. Working in this way means that it is even more important to keep your space as organised as you possibly can – even if it means keeping your work in box files or similar.

For me, given my brand is “The Calm Coach”, I find it imperative to keep my work space as organised, tidy and in a manageable state as possible. The ultimate vision of a tidy office is one that has a “clear desk” policy i.e. at the end of the working day you pack all your work and file it in your desk drawers or on shelves so that your desk is kept clear. This is not always possible or practical for people to do and I haven’t managed it yet.

An organised office is an effective office. Keeping your work space in an organised or semi-organised manner means you not only spend less time looking for things but you also feel much more in control of your business.

To keep me “calm” I need a calm space to work in. I know that if my work space is disorganised my day will be disorganised and I may not even feel like being in my office because it creates a level of unease.

If you find that you come into your office or work space and feel like walking out again then take a really good look at the space and see how it could be improved or made more appealing to you.

So how do you go about “organising” your work-space:-

1 – De-clutter

Remove everything that you don’t actually need or use. You may wish to put this stuff in the recycling or give to someone else or just find a better place to store it

2 – Filing

Moving all “important” (but don’t need on your desk all the time) documents/ files into filing cabinets or desk drawers or in box-files or lever-arch files. Don’t forget to label the place where you store these documents so that you (and others) can find them with ease when needed.

3 – Optimum Desk Set-Up

Is your desk in the right place in the room; can you access your telephone and computer/laptop with ease; do you prefer facing a window, the door or a wall; is your seat comfortable, supportive and at the right height. If it is practical or possible then a clear-desk policy might be another option for you to consider.

4 – Boundaries

If this space is just yours then keeping this private is essential (particularly if you have client confidential material); if you are using a shared space it would be useful to setup some ground rules (boundaries) around when people can interrupt you and what is an acceptable interruption outside of those times.

5 – Review the Space

The acid test is to go out of the office for a few minutes and then come back in with fresh eyes and see how it feels to you. If there is anything that still needs tweaking you will be drawn to it immediately. You will get a feeling or sensation within you when it is either right or wrong.

Another consideration to ponder is if you have taken over the space from someone else. Do not be afraid to change things or move things around. This is now your space and in order to be most productive and effective you need it to be set up in a way that suits you and not someone else.

Here’s to calm, organised, and productive work spaces!

Passion and Purpose

What do you get really passionate about? What gives you butterflies in your tummy?

Just knowing what you are passionate about can be a real clue to what your purpose in life is or could be.

For me, I am passionate about helping people grow and develop and about raw food – so to be able to combine the two together in the form of coaching is just brilliant.

To be able to live your life purpose and passion has to be the ultimate way to live – in fact because you are living with passion and purpose you don’t even feel like you are “working” and it definitely doesn’t feel like a J.O.B.!

How do you go about finding your passion and purpose?

I would suggest starting by doing the following:

1 – a visualisation of how you envisage your dream life to be (really go deep inside for this one and let all your thoughts just float to the top, no matter how off-the-wall or random they may seem)

2 – make a list of everything you love to do (hobbies, interests etc)

3- make a list of what really makes you tick – the things you get that magic “buzz” from

4 – create a vision board of all the things that you would love to have in your life – not just from a work stance but looking at your life from all angles and all aspects of living

5 – consider a “perfect day in the life of you” – how would it look and feel, what would you see, what would you hear, how would you feel. Get real clarity with this one – make the picture big, bright and bold and so real that you can reach out and touch it

When you have done some or all of the above you will have a really good starting point from which to move forward.

Now that you have a really good understanding of what your vision of your new life could be like, now is the time to make it concrete.

I now want you to consider “WHY” the vision that you have created is important to you.

You will probably find there are myriad of reasons and it is really important to capture them all. You may be able to just write them all down without  thinking too much about it which is great, but if you find you are struggling with this question don’t worry – just sit with it for as long as it takes.

You might find that it is easier if you take yourself somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed so that you can just close your eyes and let all the “WHY” thoughts just come naturally to you rather than forcing them.

Write down each and every thought that comes to mind as these will be important to you if you ever need reminding of why you have moved your life in a specific direction. You may even want to print them off and pin them to a board or wall or somewhere prominent where you will be reminded on a regular basis.

When you know your big “WHY” you will be able to move forward in a more conscious, constructive and productive way – with real purpose and passion!

Once you come to realise your Passion and Purpose your life will never be the same again!

Bringing Your Dream into Reality

Do you have a dream or vision of how you would like your life to be?

Most people have had a dream at some point in their lives but very few actually follow-it through to completion.

It is all too easy to get so bogged down in your day-to-day living that you not only lose sight of your dream but you may even forget you ever had one.

We are all very good at putting our lives on hold until we think the time is right or if we have enough of something (money, time, space etc). This is neither helpful nor productive. If you wait too long then you may just find that time has run out for your dream, which would be a real tragedy.

You may have used some of the following excuses:

• I don’t have enough time to get through my day so when will I have time to think about let alone plan my dream

• Life is complicated enough without adding a dream to the equation

• Dreams are for other people – I have to concentrate on the here and now

• My dream will have to wait until I have won the lottery

• What is the point of having a dream – it will never come true anyway

How did you feel when you read the above list? Did you feel “this is me”, or did your energy take a “dip”, or did you think “I used to think this way but I am ready to move towards my dream – bring it on!”

If you are ready to bring your dream to life or to re-activate your dream but are not sure where to start, then here are my top tips:

1. What is your Dream?

Decide what you want your life to look like – be very specific. Write your dream down in as much detail as you can – make it real. Create a vision board to make it really tangible.

2. Where are you now?

How close or far away does your dream feel – and what can you do to bring it closer? Assess what resources you already have and which ones you need to find.

3. Actions

Consider what things you need to change about your current life; what things definitely need to go; and what new things (or people) you need to bring into your life to achieve your goal. Think about “upgrading” where you are now in order to take you where you want to be.

4. Journey Map

Create a journey map to move you towards your Dream. This is a step-by-step planner that you can use as a motivational tool by crossing off each step as you have achieved it. Make the steps reasonably small and manageable so that you can see definite progress

5. Celebrate

Celebrate along the journey by appreciating your successful achievement of each milestone on your journey. If you leave the celebration until the very end destination then you may get disheartened. However, having regular small celebrations will spur you on to the next step on your journey map.

6. Take Stock

As well as celebrating, I would advise you also to check-in with yourself and your Dream every 3 months just to see that a) you are still on track and b) that you still feel as passionately about your Dream.

Your Dream may change or evolve over time, this is normal, so don’t feel you have to stick with your original idea or plan.

Using the above 6-step plan you will not only bring your Dream back to life but also make real progress towards it.

Never lose sight of your Dream, it is part of you and is totally unique – just like you!

Finding Business Calm - Time

Do you ever feel like your business has a mind of its own and you are no longer in command and control?

 

You are not alone. This feeling is actually quite common, particularly in the early stages of a new business. It can all seem totally overwhelming and your fantastic business concept may now feel like a distant memory.

 

This is not a great place to be, but never fear I have a few ideas to put you back in the driving seat of your business again.

 

One of the biggest issues most business owners have is TIME, or lack of it.

 

Time is intangible – you can’t see it, hear it, taste it or smell it. However, if you don’t manage it well, you will be forever chasing after it.

 

We never seem to have enough time in the day but really it is a matter of how we use the time that is available to us.

 

Tools or strategies to manage time more effectively:

 

1.   Plan ahead 

2.   Use a daily schedule for tasks and activities

3.   Use an effective prioritisation system

4.   Allocate specific timeframes for each task

5.   Set clear boundaries around interruptions

6.   Use an email protocol

7.   Set clearly defined short and long term goals

8.   Delegate

9.   Avoid procrastination

10. Look after yourself better

Once you have mastered the art of time management, you will hopefully feel more at ease with yourself and more in control of your business.

If you are interested in getting more detail on this subject, download my new free report available from my website

 

Finding Business Calm - Space

 Is your business suffocating you? Do you feel like it has taken over not only some physical but some mental space as well?

This feeling of "Business Claustrophobia" is not uncommon, particularly if you are a one-woman solo-preneur. It can feel like you are being smothered by your dream business. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be – was it?

If you are feeling like this, please don’t throw in the towel or give up just yet, I have a few ideas to create your Business Breathing Space and get you back on track.

SPACE

 

Space is very personal.  We all know what it feels like to have our personal space “invaded” by someone who stands too close. The same feeling can be had when you run your own business. You can feel like it is all encompassing and has taken over not only every waking moment but every thought, every action to such an extent that you cannot remember what your life was like before “the business”.

Your business was meant to be your salvation from being an employee and to give you freedom and choice- wasn’t it? So how can we get that feeling back?

Tools or strategies to create business space:

1.   Identify how much space your business will have in your life

2.   Establish how much time you will allocate your business

3.   Set clear business space boundaries

4.   Working from home – keep personal space separate

5.   Keep your work space organised

6.   Create thinking time in your day

 

Establishing clear business and personal space boundaries will not only clear physical but also mental space, allowing you to reignite your business passion once more!

 

 

How I created my CALM

As some of you know, prior to being The Calm Coach, I worked for the University of Oxford for almost 15 years (1994 – 2008). In that time I only worked for 2 units but managed to move from a low clerical grade to middle management.

In 2002 I was offered a new high-profile job and a major new challenge within the University. I knew I needed to change my job because I had become stale in my old role, and somehow I had persuaded this new group to give me an opportunity to set up a whole new unit.

This was a major league change for me and although somewhere deep inside of me I had the belief that I could do it, I also had that nagging thought at the back of my mind that I might get “found out”. What if I wasn’t good enough?

 

Externally I was giving off the aura of calm and being in control but inside I was quaking in my shoes and really worried that this was all a big mistake and I had over-stepped my abilities by taking on this role. I was totally stressed out and worried about this continually.

 

Something had to change.

 

Not wanting to fail or to lose face with my new boss, I had to prove to him and the world that I was the right person for the job, so what I needed to do was to become calm both on the outside and the inside.

 

What did I do?

 

I created systems and strategies and used my current knowledge and skills to make this new unit not only function but to be the best it could be.

 

• I sought advice from other people in the institution who I knew and trusted

• I used my network of contacts to build a support base

• I developed a system for student record management

•  I updated my skills in finance and other areas and developed systems to make this work for me

• I went on a postgraduate management course

• I treated everyone as equals – academics, administrative staff and students- and gained respect from each of them

• I went the extra mile in everything I did in order to make it work

As this was a totally new venture for me and the University, I had to create lots of new systems and strategies for it to work. I not only found out that I could actually do this and was pretty good at it but that others now looked upon me as the person to talk to for advice on setting up similar units. What a turn around.

 

So, for me, the essential part of creating my CALM was all about removing the chaos in my head in order for me to function at my best and for my true potential to shine and make a success of my new role.

 

If you think that you would benefit from creating calm in your life why not check-out my website at The Calm Coach

When Enough is Enough - Where would you go?

Do you ever feel like just running away or just stopping for a while? I know I do.

 

We live in such a fast-paced, hectic and chaotic world that every so often it can become just too much to cope with.

 

So where would you go – either physically or in your mind?

 

Physically

 

You may be quite limited in your options but here are a few that you might consider depending on your circumstances:-

 

1 -  Go for a walk (long or short)

2 -  Do some physical exercise

3 -  Do some retail therapy (even just window shopping)

4 - Take a short break away (one day or longer)

5 - Have a holiday

 

Mentally

 

It is usually easier to travel somewhere in your mind. Here are a few suggestions:-

1 -  Listen to some music

2 -  Read a good book

3 - Find a quiet space – inside or out

4 – Visualisation – imagine a magical place in your mind’s eye

5 – Journal – write about your favourite place (real or imagined)

6 – Meditation – clear your mind of all stray thoughts

 

Where do I go?

 

I travel to southern Sicily (in my mind). I feel the heat of the sun, see the fruit and nut trees, the vineyard, hear the sea, and feel the sand between my toes.

Inside my “country house” I see the decoration in the house in fine detail; I open the windows and green shutters and marvel at the new life I am leading in such a magical place.

 

So where do you or would you go?

 

Let me know, I would love to hear about your travels – real or imagined!

Calm Living

 

I am always taken aback by just how much most of us – particularly in the western world – seem to be living for tomorrow rather than today.

 It is almost as though we have written-off today and that tomorrow will always be better.

 

Now I am not saying that tomorrow won’t be better or that thinking positively is a bad thing, but if we just took time to appreciate what we have today then tomorrow will take care of itself.

 

I have as short saying/ poem on my office wall which states:

 

Yesterday is HISTORY

Tomorrow is a MYSTERY

Today is a GIFT

That’s why we call it The PRESENT

 

It acts as a constant reminder to me not to forget all the good things I have in my life right now, right this minute and to be truly grateful for all of them.

 

So remembering to live in the here and now is always a good thing, but what else might you consider doing to bring a sense of CALM into your day?

 

I have a number of tools that I use for getting me to tune into myself and refocus on what I am doing.

 

1 – Deep Breathing, also know as the “Haa” Breathing technique

Take a long slow deep breathe in through your nose for a count of 4, hold it for 2 seconds and then release it by breathing out through your mouth and making a “Haa” sound. Repeat this 3 times.

 

This not only gets you to focus on just one thing (your breathing) but gives more oxygen to the body and the brain. The result is that you feel instantly calmer and more focussed and less anxious than you did before.

 

You can repeat this as and when you need to throughout the day and no-one will really know that you are doing anything except they will find a calmer more centred you.

 

2 – Visualisation

The brain cannot differentiate between a real or an imagined event. Therefore using the power of visualisation means that you can take your mind on a short “vacation” of 2 or 3 minutes to a time or place where you felt really calm and relaxed.

 

All the good feelings you had when you were in that moment in time will come flooding back to you and you will regain an instant calmness about you.

 

I know that some of you are thinking that you are not very visual, but I would challenge you to close your eyes and think of your front door, really picture it in your minds eye – the colour, what it is made of, the shape/colour of any glass it may have, where the handle is situated, where the letterbox is situated etc.  I am sure you have a very clear picture of your front door right now – that is visualisation and we are all much better at it than we think we are.

 

3 – Meditation

 

This needn’t be a long meditation; it can be only a few minutes in duration but will be totally transformational.

 

Take yourself off to somewhere you know won’t be disturbed for 5 minutes, or just somewhere where sitting with your eyes closed won’t seem untoward.

 

When you have closed your eyes, take 3 deep breaths – in and out through the nose or using the Haa technique. When you are in a calm place in your mind, empty your mind of all your thoughts and imagine a white light radiating around you. This is your safety blanket. Keep yourself in this safe, calm and relaxed place for a few minutes. 

 

When you are ready take 3 more deep breaths and open your eyes. The process of emptying your mind of all those busy thoughts just for a few minutes is extremely calming and uplifting.

 

4 – Journaling

I am a strong advocate of journaling wherever I am. I always have a small notebook so that I can dump my brain onto paper and thus release any tension or negative feelings that I might be having.

 

I can be found journaling on the bus, on the train, but particularly just before I go to bed. I find that by “parking” all of those thoughts until morning allows me to get a better night’s sleep.

 

You can use any piece or paper or notebook you have to hand, but to make it more emphatic and more meaningful you could buy a special notebook just for your journal entries.

 

I hope that you find some or all of the calming techniques that I use helpful to you and even if you are a bit sceptical about them, give them a go and see what happens.

 

And Finally – Why not join me on Saturday 5^th September to find out more about Calm Living. I am hosting a Virtual Day to support you through your Calm Living journey.

 

During this inter-active day I will be sharing with you 4 of my very best strategies to bring back calm, peace and harmony to your day and your life.

 

Why not join me?

 

To find out more just go to Poised for Power 

 

I  look forward to speaking with you on Saturday!

 

Maureen

 

What's Stopping You??

Are you putting your life on hold or waiting for something to change before you take action?

 

I am a seasoned expert at this, how about you?

 

In the past I have put off buying new clothes until I have lost enough weight, or would only get behind the wheel of a car if it is was an absolute emergency etc.

 

So, were these actions positive? Did they support me? Did I feel better for having waited? NO, NO and NO!

 

The two questions that spring to mind are:

 

1. Why?

and

 

2. What’s stopping me?

 The answers I used to give were:

1. I am frightened of being seen by others
2. It’s my safety net
3. I like to be in the shadows rather than the limelight
4. I might not be perfect
5. What if people don’t like what they see
6. What if I make a mistake

These were all totally irrational self-defeating thoughts created by my over-active mind and imagination. What I should have been doing is “Feeling the Fear and doing it anyway!”

 

So, what’s stopping you?

 

How can you overcome your personal obstacles or limiting beliefs?

Here are a few suggestions:-

 

1. Get out of your own way!

This is a piece of exceptional advice that I was given some time ago and although I am not totally out of my own way just yet, I am well on the way.

 

2. Start believing in yourself!

You are a wonderful and unique human being and you should celebrate this fact and not try to avoid it or hide behind others. You have so much to offer the world that it is a crime to not share you with the world!

 

3. Think “I Can” (rather than I can’t)

When you start saying “yes” to things rather than no, then all sorts of new avenues open up for you and people see a whole new side to you that even you had forgotten existed. Go for it!

 

4. Be Yourself

Trying to be something you are not, or trying to live up to someone else’s expectations of you, or trying to be perfect all the time will only set you up for a fall. Try just being “You” for a change and see how good it makes you feel – awesome!

 

5. It’s OK to get it wrong

No-one, and I mean No-One is perfect – and that includes you. Everyone gets something wrong or feels like they could have done something better etc. However, if we were all perfect, wouldn’t it be a very boring and predictable world? Give yourself a break and stop beating yourself up when things don’t go exactly to plan – it’s normal.

 

It’s time to start living and stop waiting!

 

Just go for it!

Poised for Power!

Give me just 6 hours and I will share with you 4 of my best Strategies to Create Sublime Calm Order and Put You Back in the Driving Seat of Your Life

 

Let me show you how…

Announcing my brand new

 

Poised for Power Virtual Day - Saturday 5^th September 2009

 

     

Do any of the following strike a chord with you?

• I don’t have a daily schedule

• There is never enough time to do everything

• I am always running late for meetings and appointments

• You take work home in the evenings and weekends off

• I don’t have enough space

• There’s not enough storage space in my home

• I can’t do the things I want to in my home

• I feel like a stranger in my own home

• I never have enough energy

• I don’t have  time to plan what I eat

• I am tired all the time

• I feel like I am running on empty most of the time

• I never have any time just for me anymore

• I would love to just shut the world out for a while

• I never have time to just relax

• I am always looking after everyone else – never me

If you answered “yes” to any or all of the above then you’re definitely in the right place!

 

The Calm Coach is ready and waiting to help you regain Calm, Ordered Living and to put you back into the Driving Seat of Your Life

 

I have taken the hard work out of having to think about how you are going to fit everything into your day; the stress about having a supportive space; the angst about eating healthily; and the guilt about looking after yourself for a change.

I have created a simple 4- step process that will allow you to move forward in the core aspects of your daily living:

 

• Personal Time
• Personal Space
• Personal Energy
• Personal Self-Care

If you are ready to take back control of your life and to put your needs first for a change, then I invite you to join me on my Poised for Power Virtual Day on Saturday 5^th September 2009.

 

By the end of our virtual day together you will have:-

 

• An Advanced Planning system that will allow you to be in control of your time and your goals.  This alone will save you hours of time; reduce your stress levels; and put you back in the driving seat.

• A Supportive Space designing method that will allow you to not only create the ultimate supportive space for yourself but for you to feel that you belong in your own space once again.

• An Energised You arising from your new found knowledge and interest in how food makes you feel and knowing which foods support your energy levels you can create your own unique eating plan.

• An Ultra Positive Self-Care Routine that allows you to look after yourself in a way that supports you in a safe and guilt-free way.

It is my mission to provide you with a day of positive and sustainable changes that will move you significantly closer to where you want to be.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

“I consider myself pretty well organised and efficient but within reading just the first PARAGRAPH of Maureen’s Poised for Power handout I gained more value in terms of what the breakthrough would give me than my investment in the program! Needless to say, the complete content of the program will not only SAVE me money moving forward “but will also gain me even more time, energy and money and a happier and more calm me to boot!”

Karen Knowler The Raw Food Coach Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK www.therawfoodcoach.com ___________________________________________________________________________

The Poised for Power Virtual Day is designed for you if you have had enough of feeling out of control and overwhelmed with your current life and are seeking solutions to get you back on to an even keel once more.

 

This inter-active hands-on day will allow you to make key changes for you in such a way that you had never thought possible. You will be getting instant results in the four core areas of life all in one short day.

 

This is your opportunity to work with me personally for a whole day for less than it costs to work with me for an hour and gain four of my best solutions to the core topics of Personal Time, Personal Space, Personal Energy and Personal Self-Care.

 

What can you expect during this Virtual Day?

 

1.                             Solutions to four of the most common issues that have been created by the way we live today

2.                             Opportunities to put into action the solutions that you have just been taught actually live during the day

3.                             Discussion about your personal issues in a safe and secure environment

4.                             Interaction with like-minded people that you can draw upon for additional support

5.                             The Opportunity for One-on-One coaching from me during the day

So what is the true value of a programme such as this?

 

Consider how much time, money, and energy you will save over the next 12 months by adopting the solutions that you will be taught on this Virtual Day then you are potentially looking at a figure of several thousand pounds or dollars. 

And then there are the additional benefits that this Virtual Day will bring to your daily living – less stress, more control, increased calm, increased energy and so much more.

 

• How much time do you lose by not being fully organised?
• How much space do you lose which is currently taken up by clutter?
• How much energy do you lose by not eating energy optimising foods?
• How much self-esteem are you lacking by not putting yourself first for a change?

 How much longer are you willing to put up with life as it is or are you willing to change?

If you have reached the point where enough is enough and you are fed up of losing time, money and energy then you are in the right lace to start making the changes in your life that you are seeking.

This one-day action-packed Poised for Power Virtual Day holds the answers. Are you ready to regain control and create an oasis of calm that benefits your entire life.

If you are then join me on Saturday 5^th September for the Poised for Power Virtual Day.  

Full details and how to book your place Click Here!