| Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm) "Progressing Rapidly from Dreams to Action..." (sm) March 2006 |
| Published by Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D.. CMC Founder & CEO, Patten Coaching & Consulting www.pattencoaching.com |
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| In This Issue: 1. Preview 2. Achieving Personal Fulfillment 3. Getting into Action 4. Looking Ahead |
| 1. Preview Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine explores how to progress rapidly from dreams to action. It is a free monthly email newsletter written by Maurine D. Patten, clinical psychologist and coaach. Topics are presented from the perspective of Maurine Patten and are provided to help you get the results you want. It will help you manage change, make better decisions with less effort, and improve your Emotional Intelligence. Distractions happen; they can be all around us, or they can happen unexpectedly. As some of you might know, I formally closed my clinical practice of 25 years December 30th, 2005 so that I could focus more of my time on coaching. Overall, this plan went smoothly. The learning curve to get my coaching business organized and automated has been a challenge. In addition, there was one thing I had not planned on. The end of December, I found out that I would need exploratory kidney surgery in early January. This was a major distraction. Fortunately, the surgery successfully corrected a problem caused by an extra artery. Now, I am eager to focus and move forward with my plans for this year. This issue describes important ways you can handle distractions and increase your energy and ability to focus. Back to Index |
| 2. Achieving Personal Fulfillment "How to Sharpen Your Focus" Dr. David Meyers, a researcher at the University of Michigan, found that the inability to concentrate for 10 minutes at a time in a day can decrease productivity from 20-40 percent. That is more than most of us can afford to lose. We also know that multitasking is needed more and more in our busy lives. Yet, research indicates it increases the posssibility of interruptions derailing us. In other words, it deceases our ability to focus. Not only does multitasking decrease productivity and efficiency, it is detrimental to our physical and emotional health. So, what are some basic things you can do to sharpen your ability to focus and increase your energy? Back to Index |
| 3. Getting into Action First, you need to have an idea of what you want to focus on. Is it the steps it will take you to complete a personal or professional goal? It might be to improve a relationship that is important to you, to find a new job or to redecorate a room in your home. Is it in the present or future? How important is it to you on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being extremely important? After answering these questions for yourself, read on to discover how you can be at your best. Deanna Davis discusses the need for Recovery Time in the form of time outs in her book Living with Intention. Our bodies have a high energy and focus cycle of about 90-120 minutes followed by a 20 minute low point in which we are less energetic and motivated. Mini breaks, rest or relaxation allow us to refresh ourselves mentally and physically. They also decrease the release of stress hormones which compromise our brain and physical health over time. During "crunch" times, which we all face from time to time, you may have to rely on a simple ritual or habit that will provide a short recovery time. These need to take only about 30 seconds to a minute and be something that you can do automatically, without thought. It might be several calming breaths, a short stretching exercise, saying a calming phrase, or looking at a picture that is pleasing to you. It is like touching a reset button that gives you a renewed feeling of energy and focus. Another way to build in recovery time is to establish times and spaces that are work-free zones. These opportunities help you disconnect from work in order to create more balance in your life. By disengaging for short time periods, you will increase your energy and focus. To successfully build in recovery time, you may have to practice a behavior until it becomes automatic. It helps if you:
For recovery time to be effective in your life, it helps to develop a system to support the changes you want to make. A system is anything positive that you put in place to make it easier for you to remember automatically to change your present behavior (a note to yourself or having a special place to put something). Back to Index |
| 4. Looking Ahead To increase your energy and ability to focus, think about how you can use the Recovery suggestions:
Look for an announcement about upcoming teleclasses later this spring. I help people reach their goals and achieve a more meaningful and fulfilling life. Contact me for specific ways I can help you be successful. I look forward to hearing from you. Maurine Patten mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com Back to Index |
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| Contact Information Patten Coaching & Consulting Voice: 630-584-8936 Fax: 630-584-8868 Web: http://www.pattencoaching.com E-Mail: mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com (c) Copyright 2002 Patten Coaching & Consulting All rights reserved. |
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| Mission Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is dedicated to inspiring and expanding your perspective in order for you to move forward in your personal and professional life. Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is a publication of Patten Coaching & Consulting; CEO, Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D, CMC, mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com We would like Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine to be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments, topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time. Send your e-mail to ezinefeedback@pattencoaching.com. Please forward this issue to anyone you think would find Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine interesting and beneficial. Your recommendations help us keep growing, and ensure an excellent exchange of information and techniques. Archives You can read previous issues of Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine in our archives on our archives page. |
| About Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D, CMC Maurine Patten is a clinical psychologist and certified life coach. Her professional career includes: independent business owner (25 years), Assistant Professor at Chicago State University and consultant for education and business. She is a graduate of the MentorCoach program and a member of the International Coach Federation. She is experienced in training and management development for large national and international firms. She has a strong background in working with individuals and couples on clarifying and achieving goals. Dr. Patten has training in coaching, Emotional Intelligence, retirement assessment and planning, cognitive and health psychology. She has published articles, made presentations, and conducted workshops about:
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