Day 18 - Focus or Obsession?

I have really been hunkering down and focusing on Goal 1 the past week or so.  I've started my GMAT class and have been trying very hard to do a little each day.  I just completed my 3rd class session and am feeling pretty good. 

In order to be focused and orderly about pursuing my goal I have been trying to follow some basic Zen rules.  Not multi-tasking, not having Goal ADD and setting specific milestones.  So far I have incorporated some studying into each day, scheduled my "Ultimate Practice Test," scheduled my actual test date (this gave me a minor anxiety attack), took off some days from work just prior to the test and prioritized my study schedule.  Focused?  Yep.  Check.

But when does it start to cross the line from being very focused to being borderline obsessed?  I mention this because I think I've been displaying some "obsessed" symptoms over the past couple of days.  Case in point:

• I brought my course book to work and actually photocopied an entire practice set.
• Further - I then worked on this practice set whenever I had "free time" at work (aka my lunch hour or while I waited for a database pull)
• I choose studying over dinner
• I have started reading my pocket reference book on the bus rather than my very interesting "leisure" book
• I've totally stopped running and removed myself from running commitments - I sold my race ticket to my friend Steve today
• I've been contemplating "How much sleep do I really need?" 

Is the GMAT taking over my life?  I actually woke up last night at 4am feeling sort of awake and I thought "maybe I should do a practice set?"  

Hmmm.

So I'm at the point of asking - am I focusing or am I obsessing?  Is there a difference? 

Day 12 - Maybe I Don't Want to Be "Connected"?

Yesterday morning Justin and I were walking over to the train when I realized "Hmm...where's that bulgy black thing that tells me the time?" Also known as my cell phone. "Guess I left it at home..?" Justin (clearly confused how I could forget something equivalent to leaving my head at home): "Well don't you need it?" Me: "No. Not really."

And it was true. I don't really need my cell phone a lot of the time. In fact, on the many occasions that i have lost/broken my phone I've rather enjoyed that week or so where I am not instantly available. I don't feel so tethered.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those people who advocates dumping all electronic devices in order to "purify" one's life. But I am interested in the power of simplifying.

For instance, since I didn't have my phone with me yesterday I traveled all the way from work to my GMAT class (about an hour commute) just quietly thinking. I normally would have filled this time with catching up on the phone or texting little snippets to Justin, but since that wasn't an option I just sort of hyped myself up (a calm hype) for taking my diagnostic quiz by clearing my head. And then once I was at class I was so focused on our litte diagnostic I wasn't really thinking about anything but each problem at hand. Even during the break I didn't think "I wonder if anyone has called me today" How's that for focus?

Point being - I think I've decided that "unplugging" yourself occasionally can really help calm and focus at the task at hand. Being connected to a lot of things can be distracting much like multi-tasking dilutes performance. While I still think there is a time for doing a few things at once, I'm getting more in the camp that when it's time to focus - all distractions must go.

Day 10 - Rewards Work

So as we know I've been testing out "Focusing on the Task at Hand" and it's been working pretty well.  Although I must admit it is difficult.  It requires breaking multi-tasking habits I didn't even know I was so attached to.  

For instance.  Every morning I have a routine that involves many multi-tasking elements.  Beginning with the fact that each morning I actually set my alarm 15 minutes earlier than I intend to wake up so that I can "think about the day ahead" while I semi-snooze for 15 more minutes.  I have no idea if this is really effective, but I do it every morning.  Half the time I fall into a weird dream state that doesn't get me anywhere but more confused for when it's time to actually start the day. 

Then I do a series of things that I suppose most people do (?).  I shave my legs while the conditioner sets in my hair.  I plan my outfit while I brush my teeth.  I make my lunch while I toast my bagel.

But what I'm realizing is multi-tasking like that only works for what the name suggests: tasks.  Multi-tasking does not work in the workplace where you need to be churning out value-added thought contributions.  I cannot tell you how many times I have worked on a volume call or pricing optimization while I was on a conference call and then have no clue what the call was about.  

So the past couple of days I've tried two things that have helped significantly.

1. Normally when I'm working on something for an extended period of time other thoughts/concerns pop up.  I've now started a "catch-all" piece of paper when I'm trying to focus.  I set the amount of time I'm going to work on a specific job and any extra thoughts that crowd my head I just write down so that they are captured but not to be thought of until I'm done with Job 1.
2. I gratuitously reward myself.  Seriously.  Things like "Ok, finish x job and then you can go get a coffee."  or "Answer 20 e-mails and then you can read cnn.com for 15 minutes."  Tonight I applied it towards Goal 1.  Instead of letting myself go and eat dinner I made myself study for an hour first.  Maybe a little extreme - but it worked.  

Progress is being made.  

Day 7 - Ok, let's focus.

I'll admit it - I have goal ADD.  

I get really excited about setting a new goal or priority in life and will be really good at focusing on it for about...3 days.  And then by day 4 I start thinking "wow I'm doing such a good job with my new goal I'm going to try to do this too" and so I do that for another day or two.  And then I realize I'm not doing goal 1 at all anymore and I'm only sort of doing goal 2.  So then I do nothing.

Last week I started off quite strong with my goal of becoming an Early Riser.  I was doing such a good job that I started thinking "Maybe I'll start eating better...?"  And well, needless to say by Saturday I was not getting up early or eating that great.  

*sigh* 

Lucky for me my new favorite site wrote an article yesterday about "The Magical Power of Focus"  and I feel I'm equipped to start this week off right.  This week marks the start of one of my stated important goals - taking my GMAT class.  So using some of the tips from Leo here is how I will focus this week on this one goal:

1. Focusing on the Task at Hand:  Just because my GMAT class starts this week doesn't mean I'll suddenly have less to do at work and in my regular life.  The old me would definitely be distracted during this class thinking about all the stuff I need to do at work tomorrow.  So I'm going to try to clear my brain totally of outside commitments during the 2 hours I'm at class.  I can't work on work while I'm there so there is no point in thinking about it.
2. Be Positive:  Approaching this class with the mindset that "I'm going to rock this" is much better than coming in nervous and freaked out that this test is going to be "too hard."  Negative Thoughts - I vanquish you! 
3. Do a Little Each Day:  I have to do a little studying each day in order to make this a strong habit.  If I let it build up the goal will seem that much more unachievable. 

And that's it.  I'm not going to try to implement too many strategies at once.  I need to focus.  Hopefully I will be able to show some real progress this week with this new focus on focus.

....although I might still try to become an Early Riser at the same time.  I can at least try! 

Day 3 - Mean Girls: It's cuter in the movies

Lately I've been rather stressed at work.  I've just transitioned to a new team that has A LOT of work to do.  It's a totally new manager, totally new team and totally new cross-functional team for me.  I'm probably spending an equal amount of time creating added-value work as I am just trying to figure out who everyone is.  I feel like an intern again.

But the amount of stress generated by a total upheaval at work is not really what's on my mind, but rather how I'm dealing with the stress.   My roommates both work in brand management as well so they have similar work environments and are often ready to commiserate at the end of a long day.  Below is a synopsis of how my post-work conversation went with my roommate:

"Heeey.  How was your day?"

"Uggh.  Crazy.  My manager is like breathing down my neck every ten minutes"

"O I totally hear you.  My manager needs like 7 things from me.  And it doesn't help that so and so on my team is TOTALLY worthless.  Like, she's actually dumb.  I have to do all her work too."

"I know right??  It's like, how do these people function?  Sometimes I question how some of them managed to even get an MBA."

"Definitely.  O, and you know so and so I told you about who's soooo annoying?  She was wearing this totally inappropriate outfit today and tried to act like she was so professional..."

and so on.  and so on.

  

Yikes.  Needless to say this type of negative work and people bashing doesn't actually make me feel better at all.  I don't feel less stressed afterward.  I just sort of feel ugly for complaining for an extra half hour about people who can't defend themselves.  And it doesn't even feel like I'm being me.  

And yet doesn't it seem like everyone partakes in this classic ritual of a post-work, b*tch-fest (for lack of better words)?  Isn't it sort of fun to talk about so and so and how they are "totally worthless" at work?  Aren't you building some sort of camaraderie with your c0-workers when you sip coffee in the lounge and gossip about who's performing poorly, complain about who bothers you?

Maybe.  But I got to thinking that maybe that kind of negative attitude is actually rather unproductive.  Not to mention being a girl who gossips and complains too much will probably circle back on you.  It's not like I actually dislike someone I'm complaining about nor do I think that my co-worker or roommate or whoever I'm talking with dislikes who they're complaining about.  It's just a negative outcome of feeling stressed and a poor strategy for dealing with it.

So last night I spent some time on Zen Habits looking up posts about de-stressing and happiness and came up with a 4 point strategy on how to combat this ugly habit of gossiping as a way to combat stress (vs. Leo who always provides at least 20 ways.  I'm not there yet):

1. The Golden Rule:  Treat others who you would like to be treated.  Simply enough I suppose?  
2. Start flipping your approach to stress.  Instead of managing through stress, start thinking of the sources of stress.  That girl next to you always playing music too loud?  Instead of complaining about it later, maybe just ask her to wear headphones.  
3. Avoid difficult people.  Sure, some people are totally worthy of complaining about.  But it doesn't mean they are worth complaining about.  Instead of wasting colossal amounts of my precious time feeling frowny faced over someone who can only be defined as difficult - I'll just avoid them.  
4. Create a reminder.  Not sure what I'll use yet, perhaps a bracelet or ring, but Leo suggests having a physical reminder to yourself of your commitment to change a habit.  

So while Regina George and her friends may have been deliciously evil, I don't think a wardrobe of pink and negativity suits my goal to be Zen. 

Day 2 - Official Stating of Goals

Alright here I am on Day 2 and yes I'm awake 20 minutes earlier again!  Today was actually a little harder.  Even with the time change it's so dark in the morning in Chicago.  But I'll stick to it.  I guess the process is to wake up about 20 min earlier than usual for a few days and then start shaving off more time little by little until you are at your goal awake time (mine = 5:30a)

So, yesterday I was musing with my boyfriend about my decision to take on this endeavor and I got to laughing about some of the "suggestions" Leo (author of Zen Habits) had for tasty breakfast ideas. His top suggestion was oatmeal, flaxseed, blueberries and almonds. Another suggestion was scrambled tofu. Uh...yum? We also were giggling/rolling our eyes at Leo's story about while running 22 miles "the other day" the sky burst into rain and then suddenly stopped to be flooded with God graced sunlight leaving him so euphoric he shouted out "I'm Loving Life!!!" gag.

Key Differences Between Leo and Myself:

• He is married with six kids, having a clear need for organization in his life
• I'm single with no dependents whatsoever (I set my fish "free" the other day because he was overwhelming me with responsibility. Sorry Annatto.)
• He is a full-time blogger
• I work full-time for a giant marketing company that is an hour commute away
• He lives in Guam. Read: beautiful tropical island with average temperatures of 86 degrees.  How can you not live a happy life?
• I live in Chicago. Read: gray, cold winters and humid, sticky summers.  High risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder from November - May.  

Now I'm not a hater by any means - in fact I'm actually rather envious of Leo's Zen Life. But as I mentioned before, it's just a little...aspirational. Which is why I'm trying to distill these principles down to something applicable for the average, city living, young woman. Or as my boyfriend would say "Could you just give me the bacon and eggs version of Zen Habits?" Couldn't have said it better myself.

So here are my goals:

Professional -

1. Score well on the GMAT (target score in my head)
2. Apply and be accepted into a year of service with Ameri*Corps (Fall 2008)
3. Apply and be accepted to choice Business School (Fall 2009 for applying)

Personal -

1. Wake up earlier to maximize day
2. Exercise consistently
3. Eat better - meaning cook at home and actually go grocery shopping
4. Stick to budget

I have more goals in life, but I'd say these are the ones I'd like to focus on in the near term.  And as I see it, they are all sort of linked.  I need to score well on the GMAT to apply to choice business school.  And I would like to serve a year with Ameri*Corps before I go to business school.  As for the personal goals - those just seem obvious.  

The first goal I am going to tackle is scoring well on the GMAT.  I'm taking a class from March 20th - April 17th and taking the test shortly there after.  The current plan to tackle this effectively is as follows:

Plan for Goal 1:

• Establish waking up early, use morning to get an hour of studying done 
• Attend class twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays which means I cannot let myself get stuck at work
• 100% committing to my coursework.  It's only a month!  I can do it.  
• Slowly integrate eating well and exercising habits since I assume those are both things that help my brain with studying effectively

So there we go.  Goals have been put to paper so to speak and now it's time to carry them out.  I'll be perusing Zen Habits for tips to carry this out effectively and hopefully most of them don't involve scrambled tofu.  

Day 1 - Laying the Foundation

I was recently introduced to a lovely site called Zen Habits which aims to increase productivity, motivation, simplifying, budgeting and an overall sense of happiness. It's one of those incredible sites that after you browse it for about a half hour you are convinced you are going to do every single one of your New Year's resolutions that you've made for the past 6 years all tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow then comes and you have to go to work. And do laundry. And watch Lost. And do everything else that has nothing to do with increasing productivity and long term happiness.

So my question to myself late last night was this: Can normal people implement this kind of structure into their lives? And further, can normal young people do it?

I emphasize the last part because from what I can tell, these personal improvement techniques (read: The Franklin Covey system, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, GTD, etc.) seem to work for an older crowd (e.g. Boomers) and not necessarily for those of us who are relatively new to living on our own in the Real World. Can a 23 year old city living girl become Zen, too?

Now granted, I am slightly more primed for a challenge like this in that I'm already totally bought into systems like this. I cherished my Franklin Covey yellow day planner throughout my 4 years of college - even cried when I thought I lost it. I compulsively make lists for anything that clutters my mind. I insist on cleaning out my wardrobe twice a year. And I enjoy organizing my work inbox more than I'd like to admit.

But I can't seem to implement any real lasting structure. Which is why I am setting up this challenge to become Zen. Essentially the rules of the challenge are simple: I simply will become an avid reader of the Zen Habits blog and try to live according to his suggestions. This may sound relatively easy but in practice I think it will be very challenging. This guy lays out things like 50 Tips for Grocery Shopping. 50?? I'm lucky if I have ketchup in my fridge.

I will lay out my personal goals in my next post but wanted to get the ball rolling today before I go to work. I am currently trying to Become an Early Riser according to Zen. I got up 20 minutes earlier than usual and it has actually been quite nice. I ate breakfast and created a blog! Day 1 = a success!