Lyn Bailey – Life by Design

Author: Lyn Bailey

  • Is Multitasking really the answer to productivity?

    Is Multitasking really the answer to productivity?

    Is Multitasking really the answer to productivity?

    Multitasking seems like a great tool to get more done. But you have to ask yourself, are you really ever truly multitasking and won’t it just set you up for confusion?

    “Think you’re good at multi-tasking? Feeling energized that you can whip through email messages while simultaneously listening to discussions on a conference call? You might not be as efficient as you think.

    It turns out that 98% of the population doesn’t multi-task very well. Only about 2% are good at multi-tasking and these “supertaskers are true outliers.” For most of us, we’re not really multi-tasking – we’re actually shifting back and forth from one task to another, such as typing an email and then listening to that conference call conversation, then back to our email and so on.

    The problem with trying to multi-task is all that shifting back and forth between tasks isn’t all that efficient because, each time we do it, it takes our brain some time to refocus. So while it might seem efficient on the surface, it isn’t – studies show that multi-tasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40%.” See Forbes

    If you are typing an email, it is unlikely you will be able to concentrate on something else at the same time. If you are on the phone, can you really give your attention to who you are talking to if you are reading your Kindle book at the IThe truth is, we are not really good at multitasking.

    Looking at even a higher level, if we try to be a jack-of-all-trades, we tend not to be good at any one thing. On the other hand, if you focus on just one skill and put every effort into being the best at that skill, you are going to do a pretty good job at that skill. It will only take a matter of time before you are expert at it.

    My Family

    As a working mother of 4 young children, I used to pride myself at being great at multitasking. The truth was that my world was falling apart around me. I didn’t see myself as a good wife, a great mum or a good midwife. I was a jack of all trades and a master of none. Something had to give. I changed the way I started to look at my day and my To Do list. I learned how to focus on 1 or 2 really important, productive goals each day and worked at them until they were completed. This allowed me to feel I had achieved what I set out to do, and, in turn, feel better about myself.

    While it’s true that we live in a fast-paced society, one requiring more and more of us to take on more tasks, it remains to be seen whether we are improving productivity by doing this. If instead, we figured out what the most important tasks are to move the organization ahead and then focus workers’ resources on those tasks, it is likely that the productivity gains could be greater from this.

    Buddhists believe that people should focus on one task and one task only. They widely hold the belief that we are not good at multitasking, in fact, we are terrible at it. Even if the task given is mundane, it should be completed to the best of our abilities and only then do we move onto something else.

    You’ll find plenty of people who will swear that they are good multitaskers. But if you look deeper at what those people are doing, more often than not you will find they are not good at it at all. These people tend to get easily distracted because they are trying to do too many things at the same time. It’s not that they are necessarily worse at it. It’s just that since they hold the belief that they are good multitaskers, they tend to do it more than others. So they appear to be worse at it. None of us are really good at it. You will find your productivity will increase if you focus on one task at a time.

    If you would like some help in making this change in your life, then contact me for a FREE 30 minute strategy session to point you in the right direction. Click here to arrange a time.

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  • How Much Time Have You REALLY Got?

    How Much Time Have You REALLY Got?

    How Much Time Have You Got?

    How Much Time Have Your REALLY Got?

    We all have the same 24 hours in each day but how we USE those same 24 hours will determine your level of success. Have you ever analyzed what tasks you accomplish during the day, especially on those days where you question where the day went and wished you had an extra eight hours to finish your to-do list? Knowing where you spend your time is part of the equation for success.

    Are You a Do-It-Yourselfer?

    When you’re first starting your business it makes sense that you want to watch your budget and not hire any outside help. After all, you need to make money before you spend money, right? Do-it-yourself business owners take on every task that deals with sales, marketing, billing, and operations, plus everything else that doesn’t fall into those categories. But if you’re working on closing a sale, it stands to reason that you don’t have the time to develop a strong marketing campaign or to create content for your website or social media channels. Do-it-yourselfers are stretched too thin and become an expert at nothing. Very often these business owners feel behind, like they’re always playing catch up with what their clients need and trying to salvage those relationships instead of forging the way to bring in new business.

     

     

    Are You a Business Leader?

    Business leaders know they can’t do everything themselves. They see grand plans for the future of the business and know what their own strengths and weaknesses are. These leaders will shop around for expert advisers, coaches, and assistants to handle the myriad tasks involved in the backend of the business so they can dedicate their time to finding new clients and building those relationships while their team handles their own areas of expertise.

     

     

     

    Can You Go from Do-It-Yourselfer to Business Leader?

    Of course! Don’t be intimidated by others who tell you something is impossible. In order to change your mindset, find a mindset coach who can help you work through the reasons why you need to do everything yourself and identify your fears about hiring help. Find a business coach who can analyze your backend operations and give advice for automating certain tasks or suggestions for who to hire next. Consider a social media manager to keep your accounts current with posts and to engage your audience. Hire a virtual assistant to manage your email and your calendar while you’re handling sales and marketing. Think of how much time you will save if every one of these team members do their own jobs within the same 24 hour time period. You will definitely see faster growth in your business but making that first hiring hurdle can be tough.

    If you’re ready for a complete business analysis and ready to grow your business, contact me for a discovery call. A good business coach can simplify your business operations and create a blueprint of how to proceed with hiring a team. By using your time smarter, you will see an instant increase in your business success.

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  • Why You Need a Niche Market!

    Why You Need a Niche Market!

    You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

    Are you trying to learn everything about everything in an effort to save money? Sure, it’s tough to admit you need help but if you continue being everything to everyone, you’ll burn out and resent your business.
    Years ago when I was first starting my coaching business I was in an online conversation about the importance of choosing a niche for your business rather than just saying, “I want to serve EVERYBODY.” Of course, you want to make money so instinctively business owners tell themselves that it’s better to appeal to more people than a selective few. But somebody in the conversation responded by saying, “Do you want to be known as a coach, or do you want to be known as a productivity and time management consultant?”

    The point is a coach appeals to everyone but they depend on the sheer volume of customers to make their profit. A productivity and time management consultant, on the other hand, appeals to a very specific demographic which has the disposable income to spend and desire to increase their productivity so they can get more done in less time, therefore making more money by working smarter, not harder. So a productivity and time management consultant can make the same profits as a generalist coach by serving a more selective customer base.

    Use time wisely

    A similar argument can be made for why business owners should work with business coaches: owners can’t possibly know EVERYTHING there is to know about business as well as knowing everything about their chosen niche. There’s just not enough time in the day and you’d stretch yourself too thin.

    Owners are more focused on their business niche (rightfully so) providing relevant services and products for their customers whereas business coaches have a greater understanding of business practices overall and work with businesses in many different niches. If you’re trying to learn everything you can about efficient back-end processes, for example, you’re taking time away from your money-making marketing efforts to your niche customers, which could negatively affect your profits. Whereas your business coach can give you advice about efficient back-end processes plus help you implement them while you continue with your marketing efforts.
    Think about large corporations. Does the company president know everything there is to know about the inner workings of the company and the daily processes? Probably not, that’s why there’s a CEO and department heads; they focus on their own specialties and advise the president, who then makes decisions based on that input. The same can be said about your business; you’re the president of your company and your productivity and time management consultant can advise you about which steps will yield the most profits.

    If you’re ready to work with a productivity and time management consultant, I’ve got some openings in my calendar for new clients so contact me to book your discovery call.

    Click here!

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  • How to crack the Work/Life Balance Code

    How to crack the Work/Life Balance Code

    Are you a mumpreneur trying to find that happy balance between business and family?

    Do you feel overwhelmed with so much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it?

    Would you like to get to the end of the day and feel that your day has been successful in both business and family?

    Then, here is a webinar just for you.

    How to Crack the Work/Life Balance Code. 

    During this 30 minute webinar you will:

    • Find out why work/life balance is important
    • Determine what areas of YOUR life are out of balance
    • Find out how you can start changing your life today with a simple 3 step process
    • Walk away feeling calm and in control of your life once again
    24th July 2018 at 8:30pm
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  • The Power of Focus

    The Power of Focus

    The Power of Focus

     

    The Power of Focus

    How do you get the most out of your day?
    Where do you find the extra hours you want to pursue your passion or live your life to the fullest?
    What is the secret to unlocking that extra time to do what you love to do, instead of what you think you have to do?
    Women are very capable of multitasking. As mothers, we are even more capable of it. Employers encourage it. Unfortunately, statistics show that multitasking decreases our productivity, no matter what we are doing.
    “About 2.5% of subjects can multitask without performing worse at either task, in controlled studies. These are being dubbed “supertaskers.””
    Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 5/2010
    While many people aspire to be “supertaskers”, only 2.5% succeed. For the rest of us, that means that we decrease our focus and attention on each of the tasks we are tackling at any given time. How do we change this? The answer is simple – FOCUS.

    7 Steps to Focus

    1. Have Goals – know what you want. Set clear, concise goals so that you know what you want and when you want it.
    2. Avoid Multitasking – multitasking is not the best use of your time. Block out 1-2 hour blocks to focus on your goal.
    3. Take Regular Breaks – give yourself a short 5 minute break every hour to keep yourself rested and hydrated.
    4. Identify Distractions – identify your 3 greatest distractions and take steps to eliminate them.
    5. To Do list – this will keep you on track as you will always know what the next step is.
    6. Keep Your Eyes and Mind on the Prize –Focus on the end result until you achieve it. This will keep you motivated and moving forward towards your goal.
    7. Reward Yourself – Decide at the outcome how you will reward yourself when you achieve your goal, then reward yourself on completion. You deserve it!

    Go for it now. Start to give yourself time to see the Power of Focus as you incorporate it into your day and your life!

    Where will your FOCUS be today?

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  • The C.R.E.A.T.E Your Outcome Model to Goal Setting

    The C.R.E.A.T.E Your Outcome Model to Goal Setting

    The C.R.E.A.T.E Your Outcome Model to Goal Setting

    CREATE your Dreams

    As we start the new financial year, it is a great time to reassess what we want the year to bring. Now is a great time to start a 90 day plan. The seeds we sow today will bear fruit in 90 days.
    Here is a great tool to set you on the right path. Use this to create your dreams.

    The C.R.E.A.T.E Your Outcome Model of Goal Setting

    Concise and Clear – Write your outcome in 1-2 sentences with as much clarity and detail as possible.

    Realistic – Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in a lifetime. If you have difficulty reaching goals, make them smaller. If you always achieve your goals, make them bigger.

    Ecological – Ask yourself “Is it safe to me, to others and to the planet?”

    As if Now – Write your dream in the present tense, as if it is happening now.

    Time/Toward the Positive – Put a future date for when your outcome will occur. (Example: (It is now June 30th, 2019, and I am celebrating having doubled my income in 12 months.”) Make sure it is stated in the positive, and state it exactly as you would like it to happen

    End Step/Evidence Procedure – This is the most important step. Ask yourself: “What is the final piece to the puzzle that has to happen so that I know I have achieved my dream?”

    This is exactly how you should write your goal.

    It is now (future date)…………

    I am/ I have (end step/evidence procedure) ………

    See my example: “It is now June 30th, 2019, and I am so excited looking at my bank balance showing I have doubled my income in the last 12 months.”
    I ask you to take the time to write 1 dream you would like to become a reality in the next 90 days. If you would like to share that dream with me, then email it to me at bailey.lynette@gmail.com

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  • How To Take The Headache Out Of productivity in 5 Easy Steps

    How To Take The Headache Out Of productivity in 5 Easy Steps

    How To Take The Headache Out Of productivity in 5 Easy Steps

    Today, I want to talk about a five-step core productivity process.
    The thing that trips most people is that it takes time, energy and know-how to develop and use a good productivity system from scratch. It took me years of trial and error to develop the system that I’m using now and work out all the keys. A great way to shortcut the process is to look for a proven productivity system and adapt it to your unique situation. In the rest of this section, I’m going to take you through a simple five-step process that can serve as the core or foundation of your personal productivity system. If you want more help creating your own productivity system, don’t hesitate to contact me for a one-on-one introductory session to get a system in place.
    5 step core productivity process
    1. Capture. The goal of this step is to capture and collect all your projects and tasks to get them out of your head and into your system.
    2. Organise. The goal of this step is to organise your projects and tasks in a way that makes sense so you can wrap your head around them and use them more effectively in later steps.
    3. Prioritise. The goal of this step is to help you review, identify and rank your most important projects and tasks so you know the most valuable way to spend your time.
    4. Plan – the goal of this step is to help you plan your weeks and your days so you can maximise your productivity and focus on what is most important to you.
    5. Action – the goal of this step is to help you figure out what to do next so you can work in a focused, relaxed and productive state on your most important projects and tasks.

    By following these 5 easy steps, you can start to take control of your projects, your business and your life. You can start to let go of that feeling of overwhelm, that feeling of, “Oh my goodness, I’m not getting anywhere,” the feeling of frustration, feeling of guilt that you have spent all this time working in your business and you have nothing to show for it.
    Let me share an example of how one of my clients was able to put massive change into his business using this system. He was a young real estate agent. He was full of life and very enthusiastic and loved what he did, and showed me his to-do list, and showed me tick, tick, tick, tick. All these things were ticked off and he was so excited about this.

    I said, “Well, what’s your income like?” He said, “Well, that’s the problem. I’m not getting listings and I’m not selling houses.” I said, “Well, hang on. Let’s look at this to-do list.” He would have 20 things on his to-do list. He would cross 18, 19 of them off every day and the one that was left sitting there day in, day out was to follow up prospects, to find new leads, find people who want to sell their houses. Day in and day out, finding houses to sell was on his list, but not getting done. He was so excited about doing everything else, he was missing the number one action that he needed to do.
    Once we got him to rearrange his projects and we put finding new listings as his number one priority, his whole attitude towards his business changed. He started to find listings. He started to sell houses and he started to make an income in his real estate business. That just gives you a little bit of an idea of what I’m talking about with how important it is to manage our projects wisely.
    Give this system a go. Let me know what is working and not working for you.

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  • Proof That letting go Is Exactly What You Are Looking For

    Letting Go

    Over the last couple of weeks I have moved house. This has meant a lot of sorting, packing, cleaning, decluttering, making decisions. I found myself feeling overwhelmed on a daily basis. This lead to procrastination, with me sitting amongst boxes in tears, unable to make the simplest decisions about what to let go and what to pack. After several days of this happening, I decided to meditate on my need to start letting go. I found an amazing guided meditation Insight Timer by Sarah Blondin, called Healing Through Letting Go https://insighttimer.com/sarahblondin/guided-meditations/healing-through-letting-go
    When I did this meditation, I found myself being able to let go of “stuff” that I was unable to let go of the day before. I reduced about 50 folders and their contents to 1 small container of paper. That in inself was a huge change in the way I saw my need to hold on to all this hard copy.
    Then, I started to look at the reasons I why needed to hold on. One folder was a workshop I attended some 10 years ago, on the Law of Attraction. I kept it because I was very keen on the topic and eager to know more. This was a great resource at the time. Since then, I have spent 12 months training with Christy Whitman, Quantum Success Coaching Academy, to gain certification as a Law of Attraction coach myself. That was 5 years ago. I now know more than what that folder ever held, yet I still carried it with me as a resource, just because I couldn’t make the decision to let it go.

    As I started to let go, an amazing thing happened. The more I let go, the easier it became to let go of more. While my day would finish with only 1 moving box packed, I felt OK because 3 to 4 boxes of stuff had been moved to rubbish, recycle or repurpose at the local charity store.
    As the clutter around me became lighter, so did my mood, and my energy increased.
    As a LOA coach, I believe that we have an emotional attachment to everything we keep in our lives. So there was an invisible thread connecting me to each and every piece of paper I was hoarding
    ‘just in case”, and that it took energy to hold on to that thread. So my clutter was draining me of energy on a daily basis without me even being aware of it.
    I did share some of my moving experiences on my FB page if you want to hear more about them.
    https://www.facebook.com/lyn4life

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  • I love Pixabay in WordPress

    I love Pixabay in WordPress

    I have just added the Pixabay plugin to my WordPress website and just love how easy it is to use. You can download free pics from inside your website, without having to import first. Not only are the photos free, but there is no copyright!

    I have added the three  pics to this post using Pixabay. How awesome is that!

    I just love the snow and look how easy it is to get

    a fantastic pic, just one of many.

    I have also travelled to Alaska and the Arctic Circle twice, and would love to cruise to Antarctica.

    Cruise ships are my favourite mode of transport for holidays.

    I have used 3 different sizes of pics just to show the ease and versatility of this plugin.

     

     

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  • Got the Mummy guilts?

    Got the Mummy guilts?

    Want more family time?

    Can you relate to any of these challenges?

    • You feel like you are spreading yourself TOO THIN and not giving anyone or anything the attention they deserve
    • You are working because you HAVE to and not because you WANT to
    • You feel constantly GUILTY that you are neglecting your children, your partner, your work, yourself…..
    • You are constantly TIRED, lacking in ENERGY and SLEEP DEPRIVED
    • You are not coping the way that the EXPERTS and the BOOKS say that you should be.

    You are absolutely not alone As a working mum, midwife, coach and mentor, who has worked with mums for over 40 years, I have a passion for helping mums to love all aspects of their life and be the best they can be.  I have found that many mums face challenges when it comes to balancing time for family, time for work and time for themselves.

    PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay

    How much better would you feel about your life if you had help with

    • Creating many more GOOD DAYS than bad days?
    • Getting CLARITY about your role – what is being a mother REALLY all about?
    • Understanding that you are NOT ALONE?
    • Feeling in CONTROL of all aspects of your life?
    • Giving yourself PERMISSION to live life according to YOUR rules and not everyone else’s?
    • Having an extra hour a day to spend how you want?
    • Freeing up time for YOU to ENJOY YOUR FAMILY each and every day?
    • Developing strategies and processes to make changes, move FORWARD and COPE better with the bad days?

    These are just some of the things that we cover when we work together in my 12 week Love the Life You Live NOW coaching program.

    To find out more about transforming your life, and living the life of your dreams NOW, just contact me for a FREE 15 minute introduction session.

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