Working From Home And Being Productive

Working from home is great but it doesn't suit everyone.  You need to be reasonably disciplined when working from home to avoid the temptation of other things around you.  Morning TV suddenly seems enthralling, that DIY project needs finishing, just another cup of coffee before I get started ...

It's less of a problem when you're focused and know where you're going, as you're motivated to get on with it.  Organise your day to enjoy the flexibility of working from home and running your own business while still being productive.

If you thrive on having other people around you, you might find it more difficult and more isolating.  You may be better finding a shared workspace where you can feel as if you're in the office. Hot desking and co-working offer shared working environments with flexibility. Technology can give you the tools to be able to work from anywhere.

For home workers - I often recommend going somewhere else to work.  A change of environment can help to stimulate ideas and productivity.  I recently mentioned I'd travelled up to London for a meeting - I got soooo much work done on the train journey.  I also regularly go to a local hotel, where I can combine a meeting with spending a couple of hours working - away from the phone and email.  Again - it's a great way of getting things done and catching up.

For office based business, I also recommend finding somewhere else to work, so you can get away from the office distractions, find a quiet place to work. This could be a meeting room, an office on another floor, a local coffee shop (although Starbucks tends to be noisy - headphones helps) or even working from home for the day.

A change of environment can be good whether your usual working environment is at home or in an office.

For anyone running their own business you need to take 'time out'.  Setting aside time to catch-up or think more strategically about where you're going and reviewing progress and results.  I'd suggesting booking out at least a half-day a month for that important "me" business time.  Also regularly scheduling times in the week for catch-up, so that you keep on top of things and avoid a backlog - often easier said than done if you're busy, even worse when you're disorganised.

Avoid information overload by dealing with it at source.  Stop it arriving in the first place, manage it when it does and understand that not every single piece of information that passes across your desk or through your  computer needs to be read or actioned.

Plan on working five days, four days or even three days a week and then organise your work accordingly.

January Newsletter: 10 Tips to Turn Resolutions Into Results

It's that time of year when we all set our goals make those New Year resolutions - lose weight, get fit, find a new job, get a promotion, make more money. All great goals but how many of us actually stick with it.

I know I often cover this subject at around this time but I think we can all benefit from a reminder. Here are few tips to help you turn your resolutions into results....


Read the rest of the article in this month's free newsletter, just register on my website. Free tips, advice, information and news on how to improve your time management for your business and personal life. There's also a very Special Offer on an Audit Feedback Session for January ONLY.

April Newsletter - Brighten Your Future ... Today

There are few of us who aren't feeling the effects of the credit crunch. Now is a good time to take stock and think about what's important and re-evaluate where you need to be focusing both your time and your finances.

One thing the credit crunch has taught us is that money isn't everything - especially when you haven't got it and there are some things that money can't buy ...


Read the rest of the article and get your free copy of this month's newsletter, just sign up on my website and you'll also receive free tips, advice, information and news on how to improve your time management and your business and personal life.

Yes, no, yes - hurrah!

Having not done a huge amount of training over the past few weeks, I'd decided that perhaps running a half marathon wasn't the best idea, if I wanted to avoid injury and be able to walk for the rest of the week, so deciding to be sensible I wasn't going to run but would come along to support the others from the Ecademy Running Club, who had also come down to run. However, after a little persuasion and a suitably worded message in the club, I decide there was no harm in going out for an 'easy Sunday jog', which to be fair is probably a better description of what I do. It's not exactly 'running'.

Another deciding factor was the weather. Saturday was lovely and springlike, sunny while not exactly warm and as it wasn't blowing a gale and freezing cold I was more inclined to get out and run. After all, I'd been training in a lot worse with the recent wintry weather.

Now, I know I should be talking myself up and have a "can do" attitude rather than an "ah, well it doesn't matter if I don't finish" but actually the first time I competed I intended to just see how far I'd get. Although, visualisation as part of training says you should imagine yourself running the whole race (and winning!), if you think about one step at a time, it makes it less intimidating and you can break down a long distance into shorter more manageable chunks - like working on your goals. So I set off knowing I had the option of dropping out at any point or just walking and running it to make it round.

Mile marker after mile marker. Knocking them off ... 1 down - 12 to go, 3 down - only 10 more to go, only 6 more ... only 4 miles ... last mile. The last part of the race is the hardest and the cruellest. You run towards the finish and then away from it, up a sneaky couple of slopes and then a long run along the seafront with the finish line tantalisingly in the distance - miles down the road (well, a mile at least).

It certainly wasn't a personal best but I did complete it and although I did a lot more walking than my previous attempt, I didn't give up. There were seven of us running and we all made it round in varying times from the superfit who did it in under 2hrs and others who were closer to 2.30 but we all made it.

Right ... when's the next one. Ouch!

New Year Resolutions

Yes, I know we'll all have given them up by the end of February, if not sooner but set your intention, get some accountability, motivation and support and who knows you might actually stick with it and achieve it.

Here are a few simple tips.

- Set the goal - make it specific, give it a time frame. What will achieving this goal mean to you - personally, financially, emotionally?

- Tell someone about it - or at least write it down. Sharing it with a friend, colleague, mentor or coach makes it more likely to happen than just having it as an idea.

- Decide how you're going to achieve it - break it down into achievable and realistic steps. Create a plan of action to take you from A to B and beyond.

- Track your progress - make yourself accountable. If you've got someone keeping tabs or nudging you along, you're far more likely to achieve your goals and stay on track.

If 2009 is going to be a tough year, it's even more important to make sure that you take time to make time for what you want to achieve.

If you want some specific support, there are plenty of resources and inspiration on my site or if you'd like a checklist to help you track your progress, let me know.

December Newsletter - I Can't Do That ...

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is "I can't do that ...".

"I can't do that". I’m sure you’ve heard those words before, you’ve either said them yourself when confronted with a challenge or you’ve heard other people say them either about themselves or about others.


First of all, who says you can’t. Is it you that’s saying it or someone else? How often have you shared your dreams and ideas with someone and they come out with “You can’t do that” – either because they don’t think you’re capable of it or because they can’t do it and don’t understand why anyone else would want to do it.

To read the rest of the newsletter, just sign up on my website and you'll receive free tips, advice, information and news on how to improve your time management for your business and personal life.

Holiday Inspiration And Focus - September Newsletter

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is about maintaining the inspiration and motivation we often get on holiday, there's also a special offer on the new book - Time Management For Dummies.

I’ve often found that holidays can be a great opportunity to not only take a break from your business or job but to think about the things that are really important to you and get a new perspective on life and triggers some of those light bulb moments of clarity. As a result of my holiday breaks, I’ve changed career (twice)...

If you want to read the rest of the newsletter, just sign up on my website and you'll receive the latest issue and free Power Time Tips.

January Newsletter - Preparing For Success

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is about preparing for success in 2008.

How many of you set New Year Resolutions? How many of you actually manage to keep to them? I think that’s almost part of the tradition of the New Year Resolution is that along with the smoking, drinking, chocolate or whatever you’ve decided to ‘give up’, you’ve also given up the resolution itself by about February or March ...

- if you'd like a free copy of the January issue, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you or you can just sign up on my website and get free Time Tips.

Easing Back Into Work

If you're easing yourself back into work after a long break over Christmas you might be finding it hard to get focused.

You've only got three days this week, so spend a few minutes thinking about what you need to get done in this time. Don't overload yourself, after all, it's a short week.

Write a list, sort it in order of priority with the important things to be done first and then plan when you're going to get these things done. Actually plan the time out in your day. What are your main goals for this year - what do you need to get done this month to Kick Start the year? People you usually deal with may still be on holiday this week, so it's a good time to clear the decks, plan for the year and set yourself up for the coming year.

Get the email backlog cleared but don't spend all day on it. Spend the first few minutes doing a quick scan of your Inbox. Quickly delete all the spam and things you don't need to read. Pick out and flag the emails you need to respond to and if they're Important - set aside time to respond or do them first. Read my article on clearing your mail backlog.

Unless you've started with great enthusiasm, fully refreshed after your time off - you're unlikely to be hitting the ground running and be able to launch yourself straight into a full day's work. Tackle your action list in chunks. Set mini-targets and spend just thirty minutes on the first task. If you finish it in that time, move on to the next one. Every couple of hours take a break or go and do something different.

Make sure you do one thing that will 'grow' your business each day.
Make sure you do one thing each day for yourself.

If you've had a busy Christmas with the usual activity of friends and family, don't end up at the end of the next three days worn out and exhausted. Ease yourself back in gently. If you're still in holiday mode - decide just to work for half a day or a couple of hours.

If you've planned out what needs to be done, you can be more effective by doing two or three things well rather than trying to do several things half-heartedly.

New Year Resolutions

Resolutions fail because they're a usually half-hearted attempt to make a change without really understanding the reasons and motivation behind them. Losing weight is a favourite and most people will focus on the negative side of 'going on a diet' or watch the scales to closely then get disappointed and frustrated when they slip up or don't lose as much as they want. Far better to think about being fit and healthy for the person that you are.

Few of us are going to be able to look like Kate Moss. Having a healthy, balanced diet is a far better goal to aim for and knowing what you will have once you are healthy and what you are letting go by no longer being unfit and overweight. By all means measure this goal by checking your weight but this doesn't have to be the only measure.

Don't spend out large sums of money on a gym membership with great enthusiasm at the beginning of the year, only to give up as Spring arrives. Find a way of exercising that you enjoy - it doesn't have to mean joining a gym. There are plenty of classes available for everything from dancing to yoga. Swimming and walking are great for all round exercise and there are plenty of ways to increase your activity in each day.

People tend to be too general with their resolutions which is why they've usually given up on them by February. New habits take time to adopt - so if you've spent a lifetime of eating biscuits, processed foods and sitting on the couch - don't expect to have changed all this in just two short months.

Understanding the underlying reasons for wanting the change and also the reasons why we so often fail will increase the chances of being successful.

• Write them down - really, really understand what it is that you want.
• Talk it through with a partner or friend but know that they have their own perspective and underlying motivations.
• Be realistic and focus on what you want not what you don't want.
• If you go off track, don't give up, adjust, modify and get back on track.

Only when the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain of making the change will you be ready to do something about it.

Set a resolution this year that you will actually achieve - change just one thing.

December Newsletter - If Only I Had More Time

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is how to plan your time.

Now is the time of year to take a look back on what you’ve achieved this year and put together your plan for 2008. Set aside some time in the next couple of weeks to take a look back at the past year and make a note of your successes and challenges. I’m sure there have been a few of both.

- if you'd like a free copy of the December issue, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you or just sign up on my website.

Adding A Little Colour To Your Life

My latest newsletter is just out. This month's main article is about Adding A Little Colour To Your Life.

Do you get to the end of the week and you know you’ve been busy but you don’t really seem to have achieved anything?

You’ve been rushing around from pillar to post, feeling as if you’re at the beck and call of everyone and everything else, whether it’s a ringing phone or a full inbox or people interrupting you while you’re working but somehow don’t find time for yourself.

Make sure that what you do each day is getting you closer to your goals and that you’re not wasting your time on secondary goals or getting side-tracked onto less important tasks.

- if you'd like a free copy of the July issue, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you.

WooHoo!!

Yeah! :) :) :)

I was cautiously aiming for a time of around 2.30 knowing that the longest training I'd done to date was a mere 8.5 miles. I crossed the finish line with a fairly triumphant (for me) provisional time of 2.16.21. Almost twice the time of the first runner across the line!

I was really pleased as this is a PB for my meagre three half-marathons to date. The last one being several years ago and I've done nothing competitive since. Somehow I managed to complete the previous two having done a lot less training and being fully prepared to walk in order to finish.

This year - however, I had the added pressure of sponsorship to spur me on. It was a perfect day for running - not too cold, very little wind, overcast but not raining. I had my porridge for breakfast and managed half a banana before the race, although I didn't really feel like eating but knew I needed to. Set off in good time and headed along to park at the marina along with several hundred other runners.

There was a great atmosphere down at the start line and I spotted a few familiar faces and someone I used to work with who was running for the first time. You've never seen so much lycra in one place. How some people manage to walk around in nothing more than shorts and racing vest, I don't know. I'm there with the hat, gloves and windproof until I've at least warmed up. Over 4000 runners set out along the road, past the Pavillion and through the town centre into the North and South Laines, then all the way along the seafront down to Hove Lagoon and back then out to Roedean and down the slope for the homestretch back along the undercliff. For the first time - apart from the first mile or so, I was actually passing people, a change from my first race when I was constantly being passed all the way down to Hove Lagoon having started too far up the field. I have to admit to walking on short sections (especially up through the tunnel) and taking a loo break on the Hove promenade on the way back - oh and a very welcome bottle of lucozade (thanks Rob - it definitely helped!!). If not for that I might have got below 2.15.

Although the finish line was a very welcome sight (why do they have it so far along Madeira Drive?), I have to say I felt far more comfortable on this run than in previous years and was pleasantly surprised when we saw the 12 mile marker and I was still running - not sure what happened to some of the other markers - they were a bit sparse - or maybe I just missed them. I didn't exactly sprint for the finish - I didn't want to keel over yards from the finish line like a couple of unfortunate people who were being attended to on the home stretch. I had to walk back to collect my car - amid the rustle and crinkling of foil blankets that were serving their purpose against the apparent drop in temperature and a cooling wind that had changed since the start.

A warm bath and a good soak as soon as I got back and I've spent the remainder of the afternoon on the sofa just 'resting up' and massaged some oils into my aching muscles so hopefully I'll still be able to walk tomorrow.

Well I'm not exactly planning the next one but actually the thought of a full marathon doesn't seem quite such an impossibility.

Results and photos on: www.sussexbeacon.org.uk

What Are Your Goals for 2007?

So how has this year been going for you?

There are only six more weeks until the end of the year (where has it gone?). Now is a good time to take a step back and look at what you’ve achieved this year and think about what you’d like to achieve next year.

I’ll have more for you on this later but to get you thinking – why not get a head start by creating your own Goals Report, which you can pick up from my website or by clicking this link.

Free Goals Report

You'll get a customised report for your top three goals. Your current Wheel of Life and top tips to help you achieve your goal. You'll also have an opportunity for some free email feedback on your goals.

Don't delay - set your goals for 2007 now.

Work Life Balance - Could You Do Better?

Apparently today is Blue Monday - the Worst Day Of The Year.

It all comes down to a matter of perspective. Even if we're feeling really down and blue there's a lot we have to smile about, especially if we think about others that are a lot worse off than we are.

It might be a conscious choice about how we feel but sometimes our subconscious has a lot to do with it too. It's all very well saying 'pull yourself together', 'cheer up - things can't be that bad'. Depression might be a state of mind but it's not a nice place to be and sometimes you just can't help yourself being down. Just make sure you don't stay there too long as it can make things worse. Negativity tends to lead to further negativity. While being positive can be hard. Needing time to yourself is fine but we all need to have people around us - friends and family are great and will rally round if you just ask.

When we're particularly busy or things aren't going too well in other areas, we tend to focus on just one thing and more often than not that tends to be work, or if work isn't going well we may over compensate in another area. We need to keep life in balance - the physical, mental and emotional, work, health, family, relationship, fun and things around us. If one area falls apart or isn't going well, then you should have enough balance in other areas to keep you going and get you through the worst. They are just as important and you need to make time for them all.

If you don't have one already... get yourself a Life Balance Wheel http://www.clareevans.co.uk/documents/LifeBalanceWheel.pdf. Take a look at where you are now and what would you like to change. Where do you stand overall and where do you want to make the biggest change? Think about how you would like your life to look and then start to make it happen.

I'll be making a conscious effort to make this a Joyful Week - I hope you do too!

What are your intentions?

I was out and about this weekend, having finally dragged myself off the couch, where I’m afraid I’ve been languishing for the past few weeks, dealing with the emotional upheaval of a relationship break-up over Christmas and a bad start to the New Year.

Having re-read some of my own articles on looking after yourself... I decided to do one of the things I’ve been intending to do for a while. I went out and did some volunteering work for the local Wildlife Trust. I spent the whole day on Sunday clearing an area of scrub on our local Downs in Sussex, England (actually misnamed, because they’re hills).

For a New Year's resolution, if you want to get fit, lose weight and help the community and the environment, then why not get out and help your local conservation organisation. It was great. Yes, it was hard work but it was great fun, good to be outside, a great bunch of people and the satisfaction at the end of the day, of a job well done and the joy of feeling physically tired rather than mentally or emotionally tired. I soaked in a hot bath to ease my aching muscles and amazingly could still walk the following day having had a good night's sleep.

Every now and then I get spurred into action – all those things I’ve been putting off, delaying for when I have more time. I finally dug out the information I needed, found the person I needed to contact, called them and got the details to make it happen. Amazing what a burst of enthusiasm can achieve.

What have you been intending to do that you haven’t got around to for one reason or another? New Year is when we set the best of intentions. What do you ‘intend’ to do this year and what could you do to make it happen this week?!

What is the first step you need to take?

Go on – do it now!