By December 20th, I was a depressed and stressed wreck from work and
the pressures of the holiday season. Tasks and expectations at work had
multiplied but not the hours in a day let alone a week. Prices of food
and necessities were rising as were the costs of gas, electricity, and
trash collection, but my pay check has barely increased. I'd arrive
home, eat dinner, and sit down to complete work that I didn't finish
at work, which left little room for my writing. But when the 10:00 news
began, I found that I had just sat in a conscious comatos state rather than completing anything. I'd go to bed only to wake up and start the whole routine again.
Some
time in December of 2012, I received a link in one of my emails to a
TED talk, but I was so far behind in my emails that I didn't find the
link to the TED talk by Shawn Achor "The Happy Secret to Better Work"
until Christmas break started.
http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html
As I listened to his presentation, I found that I had been dwelling too much on the negative. As Julia Roberts said in
Pretty Woman, "It's easier to believe the bad stuff."
Had I been dwelling on the negatives? Blowing them out of proportion? Were there any positive things in my life? Was that what I needed at the end of the day, a healthy dose of reflection and extracting the good stuff so it stood out and above all the negatives in life and the world?
Shawn Achor talked about focusing on the positives in life rather than the negatives. Achor pointed out that research shows we need to be positive in the present. In the end, Shawn Achor identified 5 daily tasks that can help to develop a more positive outlook and breed success: write down three things that you are grateful for each day, journal about one positive experience each day, exercise, meditate, and perform random acts of kindness.
As I reflected on my success at work and in my writing, November and December were less than stellar. I participated in National Novel Writing Month and completed the 50,000 words in November, but it was a struggle; then, in December, I barely wrote. I submitted three poems to a competition, but received a polite rejection letter. My day job had done little to stroke my ego.
I listened to Shawn Achor's presentation again. I didn't laugh much at work. I wasn't positive about going to work and I was happy to leave in the late afternoon. Then, at home, my writing suffered as did my desire to exercise or eat healthy.
Shawn Achor's presentation prompted me to take positive action, to try his suggestions. While I was doing last minute Christmas shopping, I found a daily journal at a last minute sale price. When I got home, I unwrapped it and placed it on my bedside table. I copied Achor's 5 tasks onto a 3x5 index card to use as a book mark and vowed to at least write down three things I was grateful for and describe one positive experience from that day. Then, I decided to add my own twist and include three things that make me happy.
Tuesday, January 1
As I got ready for bed, my journal glared at me. "Write in me. I dare you. Tell me the good from today." I turned on my reading lamp and crawled between the covers with the journal and a pen, opened to January 1, and wrote. I thought I was going to have to really think. I had the writing done, however, in about 10 minutes. After closing the book and setting it on my table, I turned out the light and snuggled into my pillow. I slept well.
In the morning, I woke refreshed and ready to tackle my to do list which included posting this blog.
Focus on the positive = better attitude = better productivity!
