Tag: solutions

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Simple Superficial Solutions (SSS)

Our lives are complicated, beware of simple superficial solutions

One habit I am trying to get out of doing is telling someone:

“All you have to do is…”

Usually, the thing I say after that is simple. Situations are rarely that simple. When I make the mistake of saying something so “matter-of-factly” I miss steps. Usually, that makes someone feel worse.

Often, my answer comes from my experiences.I haven’t taken a moment to think about what they see, what information they have, or how they feel. I’m charging head first, often thinking of just me instead of the other person.

Then, its “solutions driven.” Solutions put you in a “firefighter mentality” where you start problem-solving. We love “problem-solving” because it’s easy and lets us wipe our hands of something. We get to go “on to the next.” Unfortunately, since life is a connected, complex symptoms, we lose context.

Instead of jumping in, it might just be better to listen.

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You Can’t Run From Problems (or Fight…or Ignore…)

Fight or flight only stops you from finding solutions that work.

Quicksand scares me.

What is quicksand? Quicksand is loose, wet sand that yields easily to pressure and sucks in anything rests on it.

At first, you don’t notice, the quicksand drags your feet. You ignore it.

You’re trapped. 

There is nowhere to go. You’re stuck.

  • Running won’t get you out.In fact, running makes it worse.
  • You can’t ignore it anymore; ignoring got you in this mess. 
  • Fighting the facts won’t change the situation.

Sound familiar? It’s the same structure as most of our problems.

You don’t notice a problem at first. Then it nips at your heels. You ignore, run away or fight it.

Like quicksand, all of those things make the problem worse.

The solution to quicksand, like that of solving problems, is to understand your environment. Tactics, such as breathing, help slow you down. It allows you to take in more information. Information helps you craft solutions that matter.

Breathing allows you to take in more information. Information helps you craft solutions that matter.

If you allow yourself to default into fight or flight, you stop the flow of information and drastically drop the amount information you receive. That means your solution, if you get to one, isn’t ideal.

If you are wondering about the solution for quicksand, it’s simple.

Float.

Simple, right?

How many problems in your life are solvable by a simple solution?

You won’t know unless you slow down and face things as you see them.

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Getting Bad At Being Good – My Late Problem

[bctt tweet=”So, instead of getting better at bad, I am getting bad at good.”]

Being late is rude, but I do it often.

For something that I do not do consciously, it has consequences, and it hurts people.

One thing I have recognized about being late is that it’s a chain of events unless deliberate.

Lets take a look at a morning where I start late.

After settling in for sleep (something I cherish), I wake up. I slept through the alarm on my phone . After looking at my phone with some disappointment, I browse through the “critical apps” (Facebook, Twitter,UGH!). I just recognize that I didn’t start my say on the right foot, and as soon as I get out of bed, I start to do some late math.

Late math, a term I am creating just for this blog, is the math you do when you need to start adding and subtracting habits to make up the time you missed. In project management, they call the things you can’t remove tasks on the critical path. Late Math is getting to the critical path on the fly.

[bctt tweet=”Late math is the math you do when you need to start adding and subtracting habits “]

For example,in the morning, I always make my bed. After that, my journaling and breakfast can get thrown out, they are nice to have but not critical. Showering and getting dressed are pretty critical – if I am going anywhere, I better be dressed, smelling good, and ready.

[bctt tweet=” My life has improved leaps and bounds since I started doing coaching”]

Which leads to another late ethic – if I am late, I better be ready. No need being unkempt while being late. Would you rather be 5 minutes late and be disheveled or 15 minutes and look professional? Ten minutes on your appearance is worth every second.

These two ethics around being late highlight my experience, and I although I can manage, It is something that I want to get a hold of. So, instead of getting better at bad, I am getting bad at good.

 

Solutions

  • Setting my clocks early/ differently – I always hit the snooze button on audio alarms – if I even hear them. I found out about alarms that use light, and even those aren’t effective because I use a sleep mask to enhance  my sleep. So, I am getting a vibrating alarm clock (Just ordered a fitbit) and track how it helps.
  • Making events in my calendar – I let my calendar lapse, I hardly ever update it. When I do, it helps, especially with alarms, and if I can find a way to get that connected to a fitbit – lookout :p)
  • Hiring an expert – Coaching always helps. My life has improved leaps and bounds since I started doing coaching for my emotional well-being(therapy) and artist being (Thanks Mark!).
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My Office Needs Work – 3 Solutions.

[bctt tweet=” I can’t keep going to the coffee shop everyday. So, some solutions.”]

I hate working in my “office”.

The area is in my bedroom.

Never understood why or how I hate it, I just do. It’s a closet, with two monitors and a desk. Above me there is two shelves that hold a bunch of old papers that I don’t care to read and above them is another shelf of papers I REALLY don’t care to read.

I built this office and mid-sized PC to do heavy-duty work. I can’t keep going to the coffee shop everyday. So, some solutions.

 

  • GTD – I looked into GTD in the office, and the implementation was successful. It reinvigorated my organization skills, and I soon found myself on top of everything I had due or projects I wanted to tackle.  I have never, ever, put any system into my personal writing, projects, or art. It is time-consuming to get started, but it takes a ton off the top of your mind.  I am going to do the leg work today and do the final implementation when I grab the book from the office.
  • A Sheet – I get distracted easily and part of the reason is that my bedroom has reminders of different functions and I can hear any music or TV happening (I don’t have a TV in my room but my living room isn’t too far away). I will roll a sheet down and put on my headphones with a mix – I have to put the blinders on and get to the races.
  • Certified to-do / single tasking – I need to have reminders of my current todo’s avail in front of me. Physical reminders help as well, so, especially after the GTD implementation, I will place rubber bands and a cup and get to work. I think it will help keep me focused and give some meaning to the office in front of me.

 

 

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