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New Path Perspective

Thoughts on Productivity, Life and Peace of Mind
A Blog From New Path Productivity®

What Are You Waiting For?

2/26/2023

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​“There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.”
​– Dalai Lama
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Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: What Are You Waiting For?

​We often spend much of our time and energy dwelling in the past and waiting for the perfect future while the present moment slips away.
 
Writing this on National Carpe Diem Day is a beautiful reminder to live in the present, as Carpe Diem means Seize the Day. We often place happiness on hold for 'someday,' delaying using new or treasured items or perhaps postponing action on resolutions until next January.

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Why You Should Make Time For Information Management

2/5/2023

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“There's no such thing as knowledge management;
there are only knowledgeable people.
Information only becomes knowledge in the
hands of someone who knows what to do with it.”
- Peter Drucker

[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Why You Should Make Time For Information Management

How often do you think about systematically removing information from your physical and digital files?
 
Several years ago, I worked with a local manufacturing company after a new HR Director came in. She hired me to conduct an Office Renewal Event. During this event, a team has the time, permission, and resources to eliminate anything from the workspace that can be tossed, recycled, shredded, or deleted.

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Soar Above Your Overwhelm

11/13/2022

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​"I fly because it releases my mind from
​the tyranny of petty things."
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Photo by Avery Cocozziello on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Soar Above Your Overwhelm

As we hurtle down the runway toward the most hectic time of year for many of us, both personally and professionally, let's take a moment to keep things in perspective.

Recently, as I attempted to set my priorities for the day, I became acutely aware of my sense of overwhelm regarding what the next 8 - 10 weeks would bring. That's right. I felt profoundly overwhelmed even with my fancy-schmancy task management system and my weekly review.


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The Time Management Funnel

10/2/2022

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​“Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.”
​– Robert Orben
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Photo by Agnieszka Cymbalak on Unsplash
​[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Time Management Funnel

How often do you say to yourself (or others), "there aren’t enough hours in the day?"
 
Time management is a popular term. It conjures visions of stopping clocks and herculean feats of efficiency, squeezing in one more task or commitment. In reality, it's less about managing time and more about managing ourselves and our decisions. We know that ineffective time management results in stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, burnout, low self-esteem, and low confidence. Arguably, nothing we want.

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Something Beats Nothing – Every Time

8/21/2022

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​“Can’t clean up the whole room?
Clean a corner of it.
Can’t do all the dishes?
Do a dish.
Can’t get in the shower?
Wash your face.
Always look for the thing you CAN do with the energy and focus you DO have.
Little wins pave the way for bigger wins.
1% beats 0%.”
- Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
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Photo by Emiel Schalck on Unsplash
[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Something Beats Nothing - Every Time

I know this about myself and suspect many can relate - sometimes, I have an all-or-nothing mindset. If I can't complete something from start to finish in one shot, I procrastinate starting at all.
 

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Even Positive Changes Can Feel Overwhelming

7/29/2022

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Photo by Kadarius Seegars on Unsplash

​


"You have no idea how much stuff you have
​until you have to pack your life into boxes."
​- Carol (Kathy's Mom)

[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Even Positive Changes Can Feel Overwhelming

A quick Google search of life's top stressors returns arguably positive events such as getting married, starting a new job, retirement, and moving to a new residence.
 
One might expect the positive nature of these events would negate their stressfulness. However, their persistent appearance on stressor lists contradicts this theory. At first glance, one explanation may be these life events create fear or concern about the unknown. A few of these events also involve daunting project management.

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Simple Gets It Done

6/19/2022

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"Life is really simple, but we insist
on making it complicated."
- Confucius



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Photo by Sarah Dorweiler on Unsplash
​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Simple Gets It Done

I had a Zoom video meeting scheduled on my calendar. These days, who doesn't, right? Shortly before start time, the person messaged me saying their computer had gone into an unexpected update, they couldn't access the Zoom link, and they would have to reschedule.

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Finding Your Daily Focus

3/27/2022

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​“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”
​– George Lucas
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Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
​[4 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Find Your Daily Focus

Before you even get started, do you hang your head in defeat when you look at your to-do list? I've been there, and no doubt many can relate to that feeling. 
​

To-do lists are fantastic for capturing random tasks you think you'll remember, but let's be honest, if you don't write them down, you forget them 10 seconds later. To-do lists help map out the individual steps and the necessary order of those steps for projects. They're a great tool, whether paper or digital, but they can get overwhelming.

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Clutter: Break The Habit Loop

1/23/2022

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​
​"Clutter is postponed decisions.®”
– Barbara Hemphill

[8 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Clutter - Break The Habit Loop

When you hear the word clutter, what comes to mind? If you're like most people, you envision stacks of unfiled paper, old take-out menus, and closets full of clothes that no longer fit.
 
But clutter goes beyond the physical. It can also accumulate in the form of digital and emotional clutter.

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Stop Making New Year Resolutions

1/2/2022

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​​"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written."
​- Melody Beattie
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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Stop Making New Year Resolutions

Those who know me know I'm not a fan of new year resolutions. I've stated before there is nothing magical about January 1st, and far too much emphasis is placed on declaring resolutions. That may sound ridiculous coming from a productivity coach, but I will say instead I am a huge fan of goal planning. You may think they're the same, but they’re not.

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Lessons Learned From 100 Consecutive Weekly Reviews

12/11/2021

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​
“Life is a succession of lessons which must
​be lived to be understood.”
​– Ralph Waldo Emerson

​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Lessons Learned From 100 Consecutive Weekly Reviews

In a post almost two years ago, I confessed avoidance and fear of my weekly review. At the time, I celebrated the completion of an unprecedented streak of two consecutive reviews. Two weeks doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but it certainly was for me.

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Establish Systems Early, Use Them Often

11/1/2021

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​​A good system shortens the road to the goal.
​- Orison Swett Marden

[4 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Establish Systems Early Use Them Often

Times of transition can be upsetting, frustrating, and overwhelming. Even if the change is positive, we feel we've lost our footing and cannot regain our balance. A variety of situations can make us feel this way: a job change, a residential move, a corporate acquisition, just to name a few.

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Slowing the Passage of Time

10/17/2021

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​"The best way to capture moments is to pay attention."
-  Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Photo by Agê Barros on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Slowing The Passage Of Time

Have you experienced a moment so perfect it's fixed in your memory? I recently found myself absorbed in just such a moment.

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A Change of Scenery

8/7/2021

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​“A change of scenery can help everything.”
​- Drew Pomeranz

[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: A Change Of Scenery

Monotony has set in, and I need to do something about it. How about you?
 
I believe monotony is the reason why, for several months now, I've had the urge to rearrange my office. The world's COVID-19 roller coaster has taken a toll on our collective mental and emotional well-being. For many of us, concerns for our health or the health of loved ones, the sudden shift to remote work, and the resulting feelings of isolation continue to leave us feeling unsettled.

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It All Rolls Downhill

7/17/2021

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​“Leadership is not about being in charge.
​It’s about caring for those you are in charge of.”
– Simon Sinek
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Photo by Tyler Lastovich on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: It All Rolls Downhill

Are you a people manager? In a previous post, we talked about the impact overwhelm has on your cognitive function. In today's post, we'll talk about the effect your overwhelm has on your team.
 
At a time when more than half of employees surveyed in North America plan to look for a new job this year, it's a critical and timely topic.

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What Did You Say (To Yourself)?

6/27/2021

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​​"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't –
​you're right." - Henry Ford

[3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: What Did You Say (To Yourself)?

​I have a close friend who is struggling. About three months ago, she started a new job that has taken her way outside her comfort zone. 
​

A contributor to this struggle is that the job description wasn't accurate in conveying her duties. But we'll leave that inaccuracy for another discussion. My focus today is the even more significant reason for her struggle - her negative self-talk.

My friend is intelligent, progressive-thinking, resourceful, and extremely capable. To hear her describe herself, you would think she's talking about a completely different person. Often, the hardest sell is convincing ourselves of our attributes. More often, we focus on our perceived negatives.

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What Is Overwhelm Costing You?

5/16/2021

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​



​"The soul usually knows what to do to heal itself.
​The challenge is to silence the mind." – Unknown

[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: What Is Overwhelm Costing You?

If you or someone you know feels overwhelmed, raise your hand.
​ 

There are a lot of us raising our hands! A Harvard Business Review article supports this, stating most of us feel constantly overwhelmed with the demands, increasing complexity, and frantic pace of work. On top of that, we also have personal and family commitments. The toll this takes on us emotionally, not to mention the hit to our productivity and relationships, is staggering. We're paying the price with our mental health, our self-esteem, and shrinking downtime.

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The Path Forward May Mean Not Looking Back

4/25/2021

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​“Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next.” – Denis Waitley
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Photo by Jake Weirick on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: The Path Forward May Mean Not Looking Back

Does your email inbox stress you out? Is it the number of unread messages or the total volume that concerns you?

Some folks have thousands of emails in their inbox, and it doesn't bother them a bit. And that's fine if they're staying informed and are responsive to those who need answers. Although, in today's age of screen sharing on video calls, if others see a large count of unread emails, their credibility may drop a few notches.

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Gratitude Journaling Made Easy

2/1/2021

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​​"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." - Robert Brault
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Photo by Igor Kasalovic on Unsplash
​[<3 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Gratitude Journaling Made Easy

For years, I wanted to start a handwritten gratitude journal. But, the blank page of a journal staring back at me was always so intimidating. I felt this incredible pressure to have something profound to say, or it wasn't worth commemorating. Not to mention the intensity of finding something to write about every single day, or there would be a gaping void to remind me of my failure as a journaler. I also thought, who will have the slightest interest in my thoughts in the future?

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Every Day Should Be New Year's Day

12/19/2020

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​"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." - Michael Altshuler
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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
​[2 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Every Day Should Be New Year's Day

It seems like January 1st gets all the glory. We throw big parties, when we aren't in the middle of a pandemic at least, and many of us delay working on our goals so we can call them our new year's resolutions.

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Don't Bend Until You Break

11/21/2020

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​
"The wise rest at least as hard as they work."
- Mokokoma Mokhonoana
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Photo by Lance Grandahl on Unsplash
​[2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below]
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Don't Bend Until You Break

I love what I do as a Productivity Consultant and Coach, and as a Human Resources Professional. Having two rewarding careers is more than many people ever experience.
​

However, as one who wants to be sure the people I serve are taken care of, I sometimes don't know when to shut down, or I feel I can't shut down from work.​

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To See Clearly, You Have To Be Looking

7/26/2020

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​“It’s a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration.
” ― Steve Maraboli
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Photo by Haneen Krimly on Unsplash
​​(4 Minute Read or Listen Below)
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: To See Clearly You Have To Be Looking

​In January, I wrote a post titled "
Note to Self: Nix the Ostrich Method," where I confessed avoidance and fear of my weekly review. At the time, I had just completed an unprecedented streak of, count them, two consecutive weeks. Two weeks doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but it certainly was for me.

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Overwhelm - Where to Start, When You Don't Know Where to Start

5/23/2020

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Photo by Alessandra Caretto on Unsplash
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​Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
- George Bernard Shaw

(2 Minute Read or Listen Below)
New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Overwhelm. Where To Start When You Don't Know Where To Start

​​How many times have you said, "I'm always busy, but nothing seems to get done"? Maybe you feel like there are too many things to do, and not enough time to do them. All the while, you're missing out on what's important to you because the only apparent solution is to work more hours.

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Information Overload?  Hit The Pause Button.

12/9/2019

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​How oft
en do we consciously give thought to the volume of information coming at us every day?
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Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
(3.5 Minute Read or Listen Below)
​
​Prompted by a recent article from Barbara Hemphill regarding the overwhelm of our "to read" piles, I did stop and think about it.

So many information sources surround us - television (and all its forms, i.e., Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.), radio (broadcast, satellite or streaming), videos, emails, podcasts, smartphones, tablets, magazines, newspapers, social media, instant messaging, etc. We live in a fantastic age of information.

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Consider the Power of Community

11/18/2019

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​​"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
(2.5 Minute Read or Listen Below)

​Have you ever faced a challenge alone, believing you were the only person experiencing such a predicament? Or, perhaps, you were too embarrassed to share your difficulty with others.
 
Recently, my husband and I attended the funeral of his Aunt Mary, who served 62 years as a nun. We witnessed the dedicated care she received from her fellow Sisters as her health declined. And as we celebrated her memory, I felt a heightened appreciation for the sense of community she experienced throughout her life of service.

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    Kathy Muzik
    Author

    I help women small business owners reclaim their time so they can enjoy life without sacrificing the needs of their business.

    About Kathy



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New Path Productivity®, LLC provides virtual and local (Chicagoland) onsite services for individuals and businesses to increase productivity
​through organization and management of resources (e.g., energy, information, people, processes, space, and time).

​
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kathy@newpathpro.com

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847.748.0144

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PO Box 162
​Highland Park, IL 60035
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