Comments on: Are You Doing Too Much? aka How I Fell Off a Log http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/ Getting more from life Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:17:57 -0700 hourly 1 By: Ready for Action? — Aliventures http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2433 Ready for Action? — Aliventures Thu, 13 May 2010 13:30:31 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-2433 [...] you’re already doing way too much, then perhaps this isn’t the best time. If it’s a project which you feel apathetic [...] [...] you’re already doing way too much, then perhaps this isn’t the best time. If it’s a project which you feel apathetic [...]

]]> By: Ali http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Ali Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:47:48 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-1162 Yep, I live in London, and have been watching the snow all afternoon... might go out and play in it tomorrow. (I'll try not to get carried away; I've got a photo from last Feb with me standing on top of a giant snow-mound...) Hope you heal fast! Yep, I live in London, and have been watching the snow all afternoon… might go out and play in it tomorrow. (I’ll try not to get carried away; I’ve got a photo from last Feb with me standing on top of a giant snow-mound…)

Hope you heal fast!

]]> By: Cai Graham http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-1159 Cai Graham Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:53:31 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-1159 Oh Ali .. Two comments in as many posts ! No pearls of wisdom from me - just a degree of empathy.... Today my golf was cancelled - as there is snow on the ground. The UK is currently in the middle of a "Big Chill" ( A couple of inches of snow and we all grind to a halt !! ). It being the very beginning of a New Year and I am still buoyed up with my resolutions - one of which is to become more active - I decided to attend a new exercise class at the gym. 20 minutes in, I felt a ping and realised that it would be prudent to retire - with the small degree of respect I still had in tact .... I had hurt my Achilles tendon. In a nutshell - I had forgotten to " Think about my Personal Limits ". I know them NOW .... I am 45 NOT 25 ... ;o) Better bear that in mind next time ! .-= Cai Graham´s last blog ..<a href="http://caigrahamphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-cannot-afford-not-to-have-twitter.html" rel="nofollow">I cannot afford NOT to have Twitter.</a> =-. Oh Ali ..

Two comments in as many posts !
No pearls of wisdom from me – just a degree of empathy….
Today my golf was cancelled – as there is snow on the ground. The UK is currently in the middle of a “Big Chill” ( A couple of inches of snow and we all grind to a halt !! ).

It being the very beginning of a New Year and I am still buoyed up with my resolutions – one of which is to become more active – I decided to attend a new exercise class at the gym.

20 minutes in, I felt a ping and realised that it would be prudent to retire – with the small degree of respect I still had in tact …. I had hurt my Achilles tendon.

In a nutshell – I had forgotten to ” Think about my Personal Limits “.

I know them NOW …. I am 45 NOT 25 … ;o) Better bear that in mind next time !
Cai Graham´s last blog ..I cannot afford NOT to have Twitter.

]]> By: Ali http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-934 Ali Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:04:30 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-934 Michael, you would not rue it if you had an enormous bruise on your knee like mine. ;-) (At least it's the depths of November here, not shorts or skirt weather!) Interesting point about focusing on outcomes verses focusing on the work actually at hand: I tend to do that too. I'll think how fun it'd be to have a new website, or a finished ebook, or to join in with a new group at church ... and I seem to forget about the work that needs to be done along the way! Taking serious time to make decisions is something I'm still working on. I'm getting better at telling people that I'll need a few days to think about something (even when I'm pretty sure I'm going to say "yes"), that way, I can be certain that I really do feel committed to it. Steve, thanks! I've never managed to break any bones or anything -- I think my poor guardian angel must be working over time. (Especially when I cycle through South London...) And yup, all the knowledge and good advice in the world doesn't mean much unless you find a way to apply it... Michael, you would not rue it if you had an enormous bruise on your knee like mine. ;-) (At least it’s the depths of November here, not shorts or skirt weather!)

Interesting point about focusing on outcomes verses focusing on the work actually at hand: I tend to do that too. I’ll think how fun it’d be to have a new website, or a finished ebook, or to join in with a new group at church … and I seem to forget about the work that needs to be done along the way!

Taking serious time to make decisions is something I’m still working on. I’m getting better at telling people that I’ll need a few days to think about something (even when I’m pretty sure I’m going to say “yes”), that way, I can be certain that I really do feel committed to it.

Steve, thanks! I’ve never managed to break any bones or anything — I think my poor guardian angel must be working over time. (Especially when I cycle through South London…) And yup, all the knowledge and good advice in the world doesn’t mean much unless you find a way to apply it…

]]> By: steve http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-927 steve Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:02:29 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-927 This is so right on time. I recently realized I had set so many goals that I was failing in all of them! I'm now taking them one at a time so that I don't fall on my face nearly as hard or as often. We're very glad to know that you weren't seriously hurt. Once again, you have reminded me of something: knowledge does not help us if we don't remember to use it. Thanks again for being you!! .-= steve´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.morethanpoor.com/helpful-links/finding-my-web-contributions-and-my-dilemma" rel="nofollow">Finding my web contributions and my dilemma</a> =-. This is so right on time. I recently realized I had set so many goals that I was failing in all of them! I’m now taking them one at a time so that I don’t fall on my face nearly as hard or as often. We’re very glad to know that you weren’t seriously hurt. Once again, you have reminded me of something: knowledge does not help us if we don’t remember to use it. Thanks again for being you!!
steve´s last blog ..Finding my web contributions and my dilemma

]]> By: Michael http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-926 Michael Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:35:22 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-926 Makes me rue my good coordination if only I'd fall off things and learn such profound lessons. There's a degree of functional blindness that sets in, often when we're really on the up, motivated and things are working well. What we forget is that the mindset that gets us on that upswing is normally focused on the work at hand not the outcomes. When we start down failure street, is when we start focusing on outcomes rather than capacity. I'm famous for it and will probably continue to be the rest of my life but at least I know it and I can mitigate the risk to an extent. For me the answer is still think very hard about adding a goal or activity to your schedule, think about it some more. Give it a last think and when you're happy you're choosing the best use of your time make sure you succeed. There's no point in going eyes open into a task thinking "Wow, I hope I can do this!" .-= Michael´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/monetizeblog/tdAB/~3/aqsOJDGxPMU/" rel="nofollow">Oh how I love Spam! Lessons on accepting what Is in your life</a> =-. Makes me rue my good coordination if only I’d fall off things and learn such profound lessons. There’s a degree of functional blindness that sets in, often when we’re really on the up, motivated and things are working well. What we forget is that the mindset that gets us on that upswing is normally focused on the work at hand not the outcomes. When we start down failure street, is when we start focusing on outcomes rather than capacity. I’m famous for it and will probably continue to be the rest of my life but at least I know it and I can mitigate the risk to an extent.

For me the answer is still think very hard about adding a goal or activity to your schedule, think about it some more. Give it a last think and when you’re happy you’re choosing the best use of your time make sure you succeed. There’s no point in going eyes open into a task thinking “Wow, I hope I can do this!”
Michael´s last blog ..Oh how I love Spam! Lessons on accepting what Is in your life

]]> By: Are You Sabotaging Yourself With Inferior Tools? http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-925 Are You Sabotaging Yourself With Inferior Tools? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:17:46 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-925 [...] Your LifeFavorite This WeekHow to Bring Down the Walls and Savor Freedom over at The Bridge MakerAre You Doing Too Much? over at AliventuresThe Dark Side of Incentives at Business WeekSend Me My Free EbookHi there, [...] [...] Your LifeFavorite This WeekHow to Bring Down the Walls and Savor Freedom over at The Bridge MakerAre You Doing Too Much? over at AliventuresThe Dark Side of Incentives at Business WeekSend Me My Free EbookHi there, [...]

]]> By: Emily http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-920 Emily Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:45 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-920 Ali, thanks for the great post! "A nervous breakdown isn’t going to help you launch your small business any sooner" - love it. There's a lot of talk in nonprofit land about setting audacious goals and throwing everything you've got into meeting them as though there's no risk and no alternative path to success. Thanks for the reminder that if we don't take care of ourselves and our orgs that we could be taking three steps backward. .-= Emily´s last blog ..<a href="http://notexactlyroughingit.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/a-dynamic-balance/" rel="nofollow">A Dynamic Balance</a> =-. Ali, thanks for the great post! “A nervous breakdown isn’t going to help you launch your small business any sooner” – love it.

There’s a lot of talk in nonprofit land about setting audacious goals and throwing everything you’ve got into meeting them as though there’s no risk and no alternative path to success. Thanks for the reminder that if we don’t take care of ourselves and our orgs that we could be taking three steps backward.
Emily´s last blog ..A Dynamic Balance

]]> By: Angela http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-919 Angela Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:39:10 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-919 Once again, brilliant advice Ali! I am constantly tripping myself up by not recognizing my limitations and periodically need to reassess what I am doing, why and where it will lead. Thanks for the reminder. :) .-= Angela´s last blog ..<a href="http://angelaneal.com/2009/11/18/the-crunchies/" rel="nofollow">The Crunchies!</a> =-. Once again, brilliant advice Ali! I am constantly tripping myself up by not recognizing my limitations and periodically need to reassess what I am doing, why and where it will lead. Thanks for the reminder. :)
Angela´s last blog ..The Crunchies!

]]> By: Ali http://www.aliventures.com/doing-too-much/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Ali Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:12:50 +0000 http://www.aliventures.com/?p=503#comment-914 Dave, those are fantastic habits! I generally try to do the same, by focusing on either fiction writing or blog articles first thing, avoiding checking email till I've made some decent progress. Otherwise, it's way too easy to get distracted before I even get started. Endy, give it a try and see how it works for you! If you're a morning type of person (I am, and Charlie's fab heatmap helped me realise that more strongly), it's a great way to make solid progress. And I'll graciously forgive you for laughing at me... ;-) Nick, I think entertaining people is a laudable aim! As is making them think, which I reckon Feeding the Black Dog does well. You're also honest about the fact that life tends not to go anything like as smoothly as we want ... something which too many bloggers seem to gloss over! Alex, thanks for sharing that -- I know I tend to take my good health for granted, but I know so many people who struggle on with ME and other health conditions that really take their toll. I think comparisons get dangerous when they start becoming emotional -- like you say, there's a danger of feeling despondant or arrogant. Dave, those are fantastic habits! I generally try to do the same, by focusing on either fiction writing or blog articles first thing, avoiding checking email till I’ve made some decent progress. Otherwise, it’s way too easy to get distracted before I even get started.

Endy, give it a try and see how it works for you! If you’re a morning type of person (I am, and Charlie’s fab heatmap helped me realise that more strongly), it’s a great way to make solid progress.

And I’ll graciously forgive you for laughing at me… ;-)

Nick, I think entertaining people is a laudable aim! As is making them think, which I reckon Feeding the Black Dog does well. You’re also honest about the fact that life tends not to go anything like as smoothly as we want … something which too many bloggers seem to gloss over!

Alex, thanks for sharing that — I know I tend to take my good health for granted, but I know so many people who struggle on with ME and other health conditions that really take their toll. I think comparisons get dangerous when they start becoming emotional — like you say, there’s a danger of feeling despondant or arrogant.

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