The Trailhead

From Patt Osborne, AdventureCoach.

"Climb Mountains, But Bring a Good Guide"

Welcome to the May issue of The Trailhead!

Welcome aboard! If you know someone else that you think might find something valuable in here, please forward this newsletter on.

Each month, you will receive some practical tips on ideas such as eliminating stress, finding your passion, clearing clutter, and maybe even some travel tips and more. Also look for helpful resources including book titles and websites. In addition, don’t be surprised when you find a call to action. I am a coach, after all! I hope you find some useful tidbits. If you decide to take me up on one of the monthly challenges, email me and tell me about it. I would love to hear what you are up to! And remember…the adventure begins at the start of The Trailhead!

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In this issue:

Tomorrow is Another Day
Challenge at the Trailhead
Upcoming Events
On the Trailhead Bookshelf
Resources

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Tomorrow is Another Day

Welcome to May…the magical month of new life, new growth, and new possibilities! As I write this edition of The Trailhead, I notice I am frequently peering out the large windows of my home office, watching the squirrels and birds in the wooded area behind my house as they busily gather sticks and leaves to prepare their abodes for the impending birth of their offspring. I’d like to say that my attention to the beauty and wonder of Nature just beyond my open window is only fleeting as I busily crank out this issue of my monthly newsletter. I’d like to say that overall, I am totally and happily immersed in my writing with nary a distraction. But…truth be told…I am actually caught helplessly in the grasp of procrastination. I have become the Queen of Delay and welcome any diversion that comes my way.

We have all been afflicted with this menace procrastination at one time or another. How often have you been compelled to put off something for another time, another day? For some, it is a persistent issue, for others, it appears only infrequently. The curious thing about procrastination is that it presents itself in many different guises.

Fear is one…fear of change, fear of taking a risk, fear of failure. Fear can lead some people into believing that putting off or doing nothing is better than taking action and possibly risking failure.

Overload is another cover for prolonging a task. When we feel stressed, stuck, and unable to prioritize our time, we will spend our day jumping from one task to another, unable to complete any with real clarity. Sound familiar? Those that have a hard time saying “no” are especially affected.

Often there are external pressures that cause procrastination. Maybe you’ve postponed a vacation because you feel pressured at work and believe you cannot possible get away. Maybe you have put off precious time to yourself because of family needs or time constraints. To ward off procrastination in this area would involve a serious look at how to take charge of your life.

We often set up self-imposed limitations that can become a BIG cause for procrastination. Things like, “I’ll start an exercise program when the weather gets better” or “I’m just too busy right now to deal with that person.” When we set limitations for ourselves, it makes it all the more difficult to complete the task at hand.

So, the thing is… how do we beat procrastination?

Here are a few ideas:

Examine your “shoulds”, “musts”, “ought to’s”, and “have to’s”. If you feel obligated to someone or something, examine the reasons why. What’s holding you back from doing what you really want?
Get organized! Remove distractions from your environment or move to another room where you can concentrate.
Set priorities: What’s the most important task? Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day.
Schedule your activities during times of the day when your energy level is highest…that’s different for each of us.
Divide your projects into smaller pieces. Tackle each piece separately.
Work in small blocks of time…giving yourself breaks.
Create a schedule that allows for flexibility for unplanned events…computer crashes, etc. …adding extra time into your schedule because things often take longer than we think.
Look at your to-do list at the end of the day and congratulate yourself for what you completed…NOT for what you did not do.
Celebrate the completion of your task, even if it was just partially completed. Reward yourself!

Recognizing why you are procrastinating is often the first step to overcoming it.

What’s’ the next step you will take? The simple vision of imagining how you will feel when the task is completed may be just the motivation you want!

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Challenge at the Trailhead:

* Take a close look at procrastination in your life…what are you avoiding? Choose 2 or 3 of the ideas above that really sing to YOU that might help get over the 1^st hurdle. Feel free to keep me posted. I’d love to hear about your progress and challenges.

* Don’t delay on this one! Join Deb Martin and me on the beautiful island of St. John, October 25-29 to explore the topic…What Are You Doing with the Rest of Your Life?” See Virgin Islands Adventure link below for more info. (Price increases after August 1st)

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Upcoming Events:

* Mother-Daughter Kayaking Retreat: June 7 (rain date, 6/21/03)

* Sisters on the Stream-A Kayaking Adventure Retreat (click on "More Adventures")

* Virgin Islands Adventure: October 25-29

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This month on the Trailhead Bookshelf:

The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-free Play- by Neil A. Fiore

Gone With the Wind- by Margaret Mitchell- Scarlett O’Hara and her classic musings… “Oh fiddle de dee…tomorrow is another day.”

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Trailhead Resources:

www.fearlessliving.org

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That’s it! I wish you continued awareness of any procrastination that may be getting in the way of the life you want to lead…or…if you’ve embraced your own delay in a creative manner…let me know…I’d love to hear what you’re up to. Feel free to email me with any comments, questions, wins and/or challenges. And thanks, as always, for reading!

Fond wishes,

Patt

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To schedule a complimentary 30 minute coaching phone session, email me at patt.adventurecoach@verizon.net or call 609-953-0027

Visit my website for more coaching info. www.adventurecoach.com

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Please forward this newsletter on to any friends or colleagues who you think may find it useful. Be assured, I will never sell, trade, or give your information to anyone, at anytime, period!

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Patricia E. Osborne

www.adventurecoach.com

email: patt.adventurecoach@verizon.net

609-953-0027

“Climb mountains, but bring a good guide.”