Time Management....

This is by far one of the hardest parts of my day! I struggle to stay on task. In my mind if I can do 10 things at one time then I'm getting more out of my time. Right!....
WRONG!
Multitasking doesn't make us as productive as we think! Our quality of work actually decreases and it can actually be wasting time instead of creating new time.
The simple reason multitasking doesn't work is because we can't actually focus on more then one thing at a time, our mind just thinks we can!

So imagine you are on the phone with someone and you are following up with a question from customer at the same time. Both of these tasks take communication, you can't talk to someone and write a focused well explained email at the same time, it's to conflicting. Your mind will get overloaded at this point. Now say you are writing an email and listening to someone at the same time. This task is a bit easier, but the person you are listening to will fade in and out. You simply can't focus on both tasks at once.

Another downside is the stress levels of dealing with multiple things at once. You feel overwhelmed  drained, and under appreciated. At the end of the day you don't feel like you really accomplished anything.

How do you stop multitasking??? Here are some ideas "m trying out to help me improve my time management skills:

• Plan your day in blocks. Set time aside for phone calls, emails, cleaning, etc...
• Keep a journal of what interrupts you the most. After one week look over your data and adjust what you need to in order to limit or take away these interruptions.
• Learn to focus on ONE task at a time. If you find your mind wondering take a 15 second break, breath and tell yourself "I'm in this meeting I need to focus on what I'm learning here!"

This is only a very small piece of time management! I hope this helps you have a more successful day!

10 ideas to stay fit with the Family!

So it's getting colder out and winter is soon shutting our windows and doors. So what do we do inside to stay active with our families?? 60 minutes of staying active a day right! So here's a few ideas to help you and your family keep moving!

1. How about a game of TWISTER! Get all tangled up, laugh, and have a good time!
2. Can you find it??? Try a Scavenger hunt! Hide things around the house and set the timer! 
3. Bowl-a-rama! Set up water bottles (with a tiny bit of water or pasta for weight) and use a small rubber ball or make it silly and use and apple and go bowling in the living room! STRIKE!
4. Dim the lights, Shut the blinds, and hand everyone a flashlight and get dancing! That's right turn on some disco music and you be the disco ball!!!
5. HOPSCOTCH! You remember that game right?? So get out the masking tape and make a hopscotch pattern on the floor! You can also use the masking tape to make a balance beam, don't fall down!!!
6. Read a book then play it out (like charades)!! 
7. Do the kids miss throwing ball?? Use marshmallows instead! Get out a bucket and toss them in or play hot potato with the marshmallows! Small or large!
8. Have a relay race. Have the kids (and you) get out all their winter coat stuff) Have a race to see who can put all the warm clothes on and then off! Don't forget hat gloves scarf.....
9. Grab a straw and a ping pong ball and start huffing and puffing! See who can blow the ping pong ball across the floor (or table) first. (make it harder and try getting it in a cup that is laying on its side!)
10. Try so morning yoga with the kids! Before breakfast do a few moves to get their bodies awake and ready for the day (mountain pose, archer pose, bowing pose, tree pose, jumping jack pose, etc)!

GET MOVING! 

How often do you have your "treat" ??

So I learned a hard lesson this past week. I restrain myself and my family and we eat so perfect for a good 4 weeks....so I've taught my family that they don't need the willpower I have it for them, but when all my willpower is gone no one is there to help me fight against my cravings. So I fall down...and I fall hard! So after way to much Ice Cream and a few to many s'mores I have come to realize I need to "treat" myself a little more often and not take so much control of how my family eats. If they slip, I can't use all my energy talking them down. Hard lesson, but I'm glad I've learned it! I see the next 4 weeks being much more productive and a lot less stressful! What are you learning on your journey?

Here's a few fun, healthy, and mostly free, activities you can do with your family!

http://www.ultrasoundtechnicianschools.org/100-fun-healthy-and-mostly-free-family-activities/