In the book The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz offer a paradigm for time management which focuses on leveraging energy rather than time. Loehr says, “The ultimate measure of our lives is not how much time we spend on the planet, but rather how much energy we invest in the time we have.”* Based on the authors’ concept of harnessing your energy to be in FULL ENGAGEMENT#, here are some key strategies to help you to empty your plate and accomplish more:

1) Manage your energy, not your time.
Start paying attention to your body. If you experience afternoon fatigue, consider the source.: Is it your diet? Are you getting only a little sleep? “Pushing through” tasks when your energy is low causes ineffectiveness. When you're sharp and focused, you can complete the job more quickly.

• When do you have the most energy? Tackle hardest projects at that time.
• When do you have the least? Take breaks. Schedule power naps, workout, or other activities that require less focus.
• Consider what is zapping your energy. Are you doing things that are not in line with your values? Are you procrastinating? Identify the times that you have energy and times that you don't. What are you doing differently?

2) Downtime is key for your success.
While it would be great to run at 110% all the time, our bodies require food, rest and relaxation. Many successful people recommend one day a week that you do NO WORK, giving you more energy for the other six days of the week. Think of your body as a battery and your day off as the charger. Constantly unplugging it and using it will drain it, and you’ll never get fully charged if you keep unplugging the battery and using it. It takes three times as long to charge a dead battery than it does to keep it charged (and who wants to run out of juice mid-task), so don't wait until you are dead; charge yourself weekly with downtime.

3) Rituals help to maintain focus.
When we are overwhelmed or overloaded, we operate less efficiently and waste time. The authors of The Power of Full Engagement recommend RITUALS for optimizing energy and time. Rituals set up a recurring time and pattern for needed tasks and behaviors. Coaches commonly suggest establishing 10 daily habits, or rituals, that support what you have to do anyway. However, by linking them together in a set time and pattern, you go on autopilot and accomplish them quickly and easily. Habits or rituals are daily tasks that take a short amount of time and add to your productivity, e.g., making to-do lists, confirming appointments, bill paying, clearing your desk, filing, returning phone calls, checking e-mail, drinking water, eating fruit, etc.

4) Purpose fuels performance.
Know why you are doing what you are doing. We get caught up in doing tasks because we always have done them, think we need to do them or just should do them. “Shoulds” are a performance killer. They never quite reach priority status on our to-do list. Why is the task important? Why do you care that it gets done? Things that we approach in a lackadaisical manner take longer to accomplish; stand to be interrupted; are likely to be put off or left undone; or are completed with loose ends. When you work with purpose, you complete things quickly, stay focused and generate momentum. This will allow you to finish the current objective in less time and go on to accomplish even more.

5) Work in sprints (small bursts of focused energy).
Life is full of interruptions and urgent or unplanned tasks. How do you keep yourself from falling victim to a reactionary cycle of running from one urgent thing to the next, praying for a minute to last longer? Schedule sprint times where you are 100% focused on one thing. I recommend sprints be 30 or 50 minute time blocks. Close the doors, shut off the phone, have a full drink, and clear all distractions for your sprint time. Know exactly what you want to accomplish, and work only on that. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done, creating momentum and focus, which lends itself to building energy naturally. You will often get more done in this period than you can in an entire day of random interruptions and urgent demands. This is a great time to work on important tasks such as writing, billing, customer service, or things that if they don't get done will not kill you now, but will need serious time and attention if neglected.
What is important that you need to do? What will you plan to begin doing right now that will allow you to harness your energy and gain more time? Pick one thing you will do today and enjoy the renewed energy and time you gain!

*(New York: Free Press, 2003), 4.
#Ibid.,6.

        

We are on the edge of the holiday seasons. Our excitement stirs as we think about the smells, activities, and fun that each event brings. But, just as joy fills our thoughts, stress often fills the body! All of the to-dos, dates, expenses, people, and other holiday demands fill our minds. It’s time to make this year different! Here are five basic strategies to help you plan a balanced and joyful holiday:

1. Have a VISION. Spend a few moments dreaming about the holidays. Consider what you want your holidays to look like this year. Think about your essential eight (see the balance wheel). How do you want to handle work, family, personal, and outside obligations? Take a few minutes to picture your vision and then write it down. What is important to you that you want to do? What is not included in your vision? What is different this year than you have done in the past? 

2. CLEAR your mind. Thinking about all the things that you have to do, divide a piece of paper into the four major categories that represent where you will be spending most of your time this holiday season. (e.g., work, family, home, church). Jot down everything that must be done and all the things you would like to. What is most important for you to finish by the end of the year (e.g., projects, deadlines)? What commitments are on your plate over the course of the next few weeks? What would you need to do to make your holiday vision a reality? Be sure to consider each area of your life. List everything here, even little things. If you don't, it is like having 20 windows open on your computer: your brain will work slower. You can't afford forgetfulness or delays at this busy time of the year. WRITE IT DOWN!

3. PRIORITIZE your projects.     
    a. Remember deadlines and time. Note when each project must be done and how much time this will take you. This is just simple reality check. There are only so many hours. Is it realistic for you to get this done? Do you need to do it, delegate it, ask for help, or trash it? Don't set yourself up to fail before you've even started!
    b. Evaluate. Review your list and consider which items are the most important and which are the least important. Highlight the items that are MUST DOS. Do yourself a favor and cross off the things that are wishes that you know you will simply not have time to do. 
    c. Commit. In order to accomplish your vision and necessities, what will you do and what will you NOT do? For example, my vision is to do three Christmas activities with my family, so I will commit to putting those on the calendar. For example, I will commit to baking cookies on one day only (I will NOT get stuck in the kitchen each Saturday). Another part of my vision is to take Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and one day on either side off, so I will arrange to block out my calendar and will commit to NO appointments on those days.

4. STREAMLINE your projects/tasks. Determine what tasks need to be accomplished in order for each item on your list to be completed. To ensure that you’re making minimal shopping stops/errands, and spending minutes instead of hours doing research and online searches, it’s important to group similar tasks.
Have a clipboard with the following sheets on it: Gifts, Errands/Shopping, Office, Home, and Scheduling. As you think about your projects, put the to-dos on the group lists so that you can quickly reference them and accomplish more in less time. For example, let’s look at gift giving. Think through all the people you want to send cards to, or give gifts to: friends, family, business colleagues, neighbors, service professionals (mailman, hairdresser, etc.), and anyone else for whom you purchase gifts each year. Be sure to note budget, likes, and details like each person’s birth year and size.

5. PLAN how you will get it done! For each area on your list, ask yourself “How will I stick to this plan?" Create a system that will ensure that you follow through on the plan that you created. Now that you have your projects, priorities, and groups, put what you will do, how will you do it, and when you will do it. Planning time for your projects is a sure way to guarantee your success. 
    a. Use one calendar; put all professional and personal appointments on your calendar.
    b. Make sure to block out accurate time to complete the project/tasks. 
    c. Set up buddies/accountability as needed to make sure you keep the appointment/deadline. 
    d. Make sure to schedule any "prep" work that needs to be done for projects. 
    e. Review the next day's schedule/plan each night before you go to bed.
    f. Make sure to schedule time for self-care! To perform at your best emotionally, mentally, and physically, take time each day to take care of yourself: exercise, drink water, take your vitamins, get enough sleep, and relax!

Once you create you plan, stick to it! Do not procrastinate, because your plan is built on deadlines and priorities. So force yourself to get it done. This often works best by doing the "hard" thing, first thing in the day. As you follow your plan, your load will get lighter; the system works, and your holidays will become balanced and filled with joy.

        

The reality is that many people experience afternoon slumps. It could be too many carbs eaten at lunch, low blood sugar, or a variety of other reasons. Regardless of the cause, the key is get your blood moving and get your mind and energy motivated. Here are eight simple tips to overcome the afternoon slump.

1. Eat smart. For lunch, eat light: enjoy smoothies, fruit, water, nuts, and proteins instead of heavy carbs that will take more of your body’s energy to digest.

2. Do the hardest project of the day first. If you eat your "frog" in the morning, rather than leaving the most difficult task to do in the afternoon, you will have other less difficult things to work on.

3. Create an afternoon routine. For example: after lunch, do a 5-minute power walk outside, perform 10 jumping jacks, go to the bathroom, put cold water on your face, and get a big glass of ice water. Then come into your office, clear your desk, do a brain bump of all morning to-do's, turn on the lights/music, open a window, and start working! Routines help our brains connect with what we want to do. Once you develop habits, your brain will automatically shift gears when you do the same activities. 

4. Engage your body. Do things that get your body moving and that are "easy." Stand up, sit on a balance ball instead of a chair; do things that keep your blood and body moving. Stay engaged with movement and let the momentum of movement keep you alert. 

5. Give your brain a break. Save the more mindless and active tasks for the afternoon (e.g., errands, phone calls, filing, straightening, sorting). If you are trying to concentrate, looking at the computer, reading, or listening, you are working against your energy and have to work harder to think and focus. 

6. Change the scenery. If you can, move to a different room. Do things to get extra lighting or air. Sit in a place that is suitable but not cozy (perhaps a natural environment to keep you from getting distracted when your mind is already wandering). Turn on some upbeat music. Let your environment keep you on your toes. 

7. Play a game. Give yourself a goal or game to play. For example, if you get a project done or so many calls made, you can reward yourself by going home early, or stopping for a treat on the way home. Introduce some momentum and urgency to the picture to counteract the slowing force of your energy. 

8. Lastly, don't fight it. If nothing else is working, take the 10-minute power nap or a 10-minute mediation time (set a timer). This will allow you to rest completely and then focus and re-engage in high productivity. If you keep fighting it, you will have a longer period of low productivity.

Track your energy and look for the patterns of what works and what slows you down. Find the things that support you to be the most productive and attentive; try different things. When you find things that work, make them habits.

        

New Year’s resolutions, otherwise known as "good intentions," are those things that are set at the beginning of the year when people feel they can wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start. It is said that 80% of all News Year’s resolutions fail. A survey conducted by Gail Kasper, LLC (www.gailkasper.com) finds that 51% of people don’t have New Year’s resolutions, and of those who do, 79% don’t have a plan to achieve them, leaving a small 9% of Americans serious about achieving their goals from the onset.

The truth is, resolutions can be accomplished. You just have to follow the four P.L.A.N. steps, and you can make your resolutions a success this year!

Simply follow the four-step P.L.A.N.:

P = Prepare. Visualize what you want. Sit down and really think through what it is that you want to accomplish. Plan with the end goal in mind. Write your resolution/goal in the first person, as if it were already done. Set a deadline of when you want it accomplished. Write down the result of your accomplished goal and the reward you will give yourself when you meet it. Now, walk backwards in your mind and write down at least three measurable mini-milestones. Do this so you can check your progress along the way. Prepare your mind and have a visual aid to keep in front of you so that you will be focused and committed in this next year.

L = List.
To be clear about the commitment you are taking on, make some key lists to support your efforts.
• What personal behaviors need to change to make this goal a reality?
• What steps will you have to take to make it happen?
• What are the barriers that might prevent you from accomplishing your goal?
• What will you have to stop doing to make your goal a success?
• What is in your control and what is out of yourcontrol? What can you do about each?
• What are the "costs" you will have to pay to accomplish this resolution (e.g., if you are trying to lose weight, forfeiting potato chips)?
• What are your strengths and weakness? How can you utilize them or watch out for them?
• Review your lists to make sure you are really willing to pay the cost, are committed to changing your behavior, and are ready to do what it will take to follow the plan.

A = Adjust.
Assess your environment and decide what things you need to change. Your environment around you makes a difference in your ability to work towards and implement your goal. Look at what things in your environment could hold you back form your goals and what things in your environments can help you accomplish them. What do you need to add and what do you need to get rid of? Right now, actively make these changes so that your environments are ready to support you in accomplishing your resolution. Your environment may include the following:

• relationships
• feelings
• thoughts
• health
• time
• energy sources
• personal space of home, office, or car
• and other things that you surround yourself with.

N = Network.
Ensure that someone or something around you knows your goal and will help you measure your progress. There are many Web sites that help you track and assess your goals, including as http://www.goals.com or http://sparkpeople.com/index.asp. Many other online tools that are topic specific, like http://www.foodfacts.com/ work well. Perhaps you are more comfortable building a support system: either find someone who knows you well and with whom you are comfortable designing how they can support you, or arrange for an accountability buddy with whom you are in "competition" as you both strive to meet your respective goals.

When you use the four P.L.A.N. steps (PREPARE, LIST, ADJUST, and NETWORK) to outline your goals, you are setting yourself up for success. It is challenging to change behavior and that is what New Year’s resolutions usually are about.* But, when you are thorough and diligent about planning on the front end, you can almost guarantee results on the back end. Now, the only thing left to do is implement the PLAN! You can do it. Charge into 2006 and keep working on your PLAN.

*COMMON RESOLUTIONS: Spend more time with family & friends; exercise more, lose weight or eat better; quit smoking; enjoy life more & have fun; quit drinking; get out of debt, stick to a budget, save or earn more money; learn something new; find a better job; help others; become a better person; be more patient at work and/or with others; get organized.

        

1.)  PERSONALIZED.
Every person has unique strengths, gifts and talents. Every person things and operates in their own special way that works for them. It is great to read books, listen to audios and be mentors by others that have gone before us. We can learn from these resources, AND they do not always for work us.

Coaching allows a dynamic conversation to happen to meet you where you are at that day and personally customize and adapt what you want with strategies and tactics that are in line with how you naturally function.

Coaching takes a holistic view at your short term goals and places them in line with your long term goals not only for the area of focus but also your whole life. This is unique and critical as many things “happen” in life that can distract, lure and pull us off the course. Coaching looks to understand you, your goals and your path in a way that is customized to work with the way you think, act and function in life.

2.)  VISION.
You will have a clear idea of where you want to go and how to get there. Often we know the end result, but do not see what it takes to get there. This is critical for your success. You cannot do what you cannot see first. Coaching will ask you questions to make sure your vision is strong.

3.)  MOTIVATION.
You will know what you really want and understand your unique values and motives to keep you moving forward. Stop procrastinating, delaying and putting off because of fears, perfectionism and doubts.

4.)  FOCUS.
You will be able to operate with clear priorities, doing what is most important things which will allow you to excel in the midst of 'urgent' demands and busy chaotic schedules and lives.

5.)  CLARITY.
Each coaching session deepens your learning about how you work and think. Coaching also prepares you for action and supports you in getting crystal clear on the steps to take. By work with a coach, you will get a helicopter perspective so that you can return to your business and navigate quickly because you have taken time to assess where you are going. You will be able to see what is right in front of you and developed a plan to forge ahead.

6.)  ENERGY.
You will find yourself working at your optimum potential. Why? When you are operating in line with your values, life just simply comes together in an easy way. Coaching will give you with the encouragement, momentum, and natural dynamics to operate more efficiently and effectively. You cannot get more hours in the day, but if you have more energy, you will get more done and feel great!

7.)  SPEED.
You will be more effective. Through planning and strategizing, you will be able to eliminate ineffective methods and enhance those methods that are most natural to supporting you in reaching your goals quicker.

8.)  PRODUCTIVITY.
You will simply get more done. Coaching will keep your goals clear and in line with your vision. Next, it ensures that what you are doing is important to furthering the bottom line, not just want is urgent, easy or obvious. Then, the regular accountability provides a structure that will keep you moving forward, so you can really get it all done.

9.)  RESULTS.
Through regular coaching and consistent follow-up, you will increase your bottom-line results. Profits. Clients. Personal Passions. Weight Lose. Whatever your objective is, coaching is a strategic partnership to support you in getting what you want as quickly as possible. If you are ready and motivated, you can actually double what you accomplish in a period of time.

10.)  SUCCESS.
You will be more successful. Through keeping focused on what you want, the goals and the plan, coaching helps you keep the big picture in mind while you implement the small steps. While focusing on the goals, coaching monitors the balance in your whole life, so you are not distracted with life pulls but have all the elements of your life complimenting your actions. Before you know it, your goal is complete!

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1. PLUG IN.
Identify what gives you ENERGY in your life. Make a list of at least five things that give you energy. What do you love to do? What do you find yourself naturally attracted to? Know what these are, because they are your “fuel” and keep you charged.

2. CLEAN HOUSE.
What is the clutter that is slowing you down? What are you tolerating? What are the “cob webs & dust” that cloud your understanding of a clear life?

3. BE AUTHENTIC.
Get in line with your HEART & SOUL; the part that “authentically” represents you. Who you are. What you stand for. Your purpose for being on earth. The gift you have to share. List these key passions (characteristics, traits, natural God-given gifts/talents that you want to share with the world.)

4. LIVE YOUR VALUES.
What is important to you about life? What is important to you about living? These are the things that if you honor them in your life, everything is good. If you are not, we get out of rhythm, anxious, frustrated, upset, etc. What are you true values?

5. SEE THE VISION.
Establish your personal VISION. Where do you hope to be in five years. What do you hope is read in your obituary? You have one life to live. What are you going to do with it?

6. PLAN A DIRECTION.
How are you going to get there? What stages and steps will get you there or look back from the future and assess how you got there.

7. AIM PRECISELY.
Determine & define your FOCUS. Make it measurable. Identify what is distracting you. How can you overcome the obstacles? Visualize your target.

8. CULTIVATE CHANGE.
Evaluate your current position. What is not working? What would serve you better if it were different? What shifts need to be made?

9. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Do something. Commit to the plan and take action.Tell others about it. Find a way to be held accountable. Every day take a step toward the goal.

10. AFFIRM DAILY.
Make habits that reinforce the ideas and habits you want to cultivate in your life. Tape the statement to your mirror, on the dash of your car, etc. Whatever you need to be most reminded of and encouraged to focus on, write it and post it. Make a routine reading these, so they become part of your subconscious memory.

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Hello and Welcome to my new blog! My name is Christy Geiger, a Business Strategy Coach, Speaker, Author and Trainer.

I am a high energy person who enjoys being on the go. I am passionate about helping others achieve their visions and dreams. I believe anything is possible and all it takes is knowing what you want and moving toward that.  I believe in the principles of the Laws of Attraction while filtering them with my strong Christian beliefs that all success is a gift from God.

I started Synergy Strategies, a business coaching and training company in 2002. After working in HR and Counseling, coaching was an ideal place to use both my business experience and people skills. In my trainings and 1-1 coaching, I work with executives, IBO’s and professionals to maximize their strengths and personal effectiveness.  As a strong strategic thinker, maximizer and activator, I work best with companies and individuals who are focused on a desired result and are committed to make it happen (ACT!).

Through my coaching and trainings I am able to help people find clarity in their mission/ vision and develop strategies to achieve the goal.  Coaching is a dynamic process to run with my clients to sort through the clutter, see patterns, anticipate outcomes or potential obstacles and find the best path to move forward. I enjoy connecting with people to have meaningful relationships and assisting them to identify, nurture, refine, and stretch toward their best.  Areas of specialty include: time management, DISC, goals, vision and mission, big picture strategic planning, clarity & focus for action planning:

-Business Coaching Services
-Business Leadership
-Corporate Training Development
-Executive Business Coaching
-Leadership Coaching
-Performance Development
-Professional Development Coaching

Success is not a question, just an attitude and determination to make it happen. Excellence and continuous improvement is my measure of how to work. My goal is to be a strategic partner to support professionals responsible for their own bottom line to have clarity, focus and results!  I plan to share insights, best practices, strategies and resources to achieve amazing results via my blog.

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