WORK OTHER ACTIVITIES AROUND YOUR FOCUS.

For example, on a work focused day you might include a half hour of devotions or meditation, ‛spiritual', going out to eat with your spouse, ‛social' and reading a chapter or two of a book on visiting England, ‛learning'.

You might also breakdown your focus activity, such as ‛work', into major projects. For example, on a ‛work' day I might include time for writing, web site update and article distribution activities.

Routine activities such as answering e-mail, making phone calls and list maintenance are automatic and not scheduled. If I need a reminder to do them, I use a ‛To Do' list.

HERE'S WHY THIS FORM OF ORGANIZATION IS SO VALUABLE.

We've all had experience of starting a day with intention of working on a major project. Then little chores creep in. A phone call here. an e-mail there, a few letters to read, a fax to send and suddenly day is almost over. You have piddled away all your good intentions.

By focusing your day, you tend to psychologically piddle-proof yourself. Sure, you'll probably get side-tracked. But always in back of your mind will be that nagging nanny urging you to re-focus. This often means difference between a productive day or wasted hours.

STAY FLEXIBLE.

Treat your focus calendar as a guide not a dictator. If an unexpected and welcome activity knocks on your door, invite it in. If that means switching or eliminating a planned activity on your weekly calendar, go for it. Life is too short to live in an organizational straight-jacket.

However, don't allow side-tracks to become a habit. You'll know when an unscheduled activity is an honest diversion or an escape excuse. All that's required is a little self-discipline and internal honesty.

END OF THE WEEK WRAP-UP.

Before starting next week's calendar, I like to review previous week. How much did I accomplish? What ‛special' activities do I want to continue in coming week? Did I tend to lose my focus on some days. If so, was slippage warranted or was I playing hooky from my plans.

This quick review should be an encouragement. If you've been at all persistent in sticking with your planned activities, you'll be pleased at how much you've accomplished. If you're not, try to find out why you tended to stray and what you can do about it in coming week.

Once you make Empowered Maturity Plan a regular habit, you'll discover your accomplishment curve going way up. Not only will you be doing more but you'll feel better about yourself and where you are going. And that, my friend, produces a longer life with healthier, happier and more productive days.

________________________ ______________ Get more facts, techniques and information about living healthier, happier and being more productive. Subscribe Free to Doug C. Grant's bi-monthly e-zine, THE EMPOWERED MATURITY PAGE. It's directed toward over 50 Crowd but good reading for anyone wanting to boost their life up a notch or two. Subscribe at: mailto:empoweredpage@smartautoresponder.com

2. Stop looking outside yourself for happiness. Look inside. Increase your self-awareness. Get curious about who you are at core. Cultivate and nurture a relationship with yourself.

3. Cover basics. Take time to address your personal needs. How can you focus on thriving in your life if you are in survival mode? Set up that meeting with a financial advisor, get your space organized, clean up details that are sapping your energy.

4. Embrace your past and move on. Shift from “why it happened” to what I want to do about it now. Asking “why” is not a very empowering question. Asking what or how I want to proceed can be much more powerful and produce forward movement.

5. You’re not alone. It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed with life. Seek support. It’s amazing to realize that most of us are struggling with similar challenges. “Hold hands and stick together”, wrote Robert Fulgham in his popular bestseller, “Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”.

6. Remember gratitude. Count your blessings. What IS working well in you life? Make a list. Set aside a bit of time everyday to acknowledge what or who you are grateful for. The more you practice gratitude, more you attract into your life things to be grateful for.

7. Court your passion. Yes, you have passion even though it’s been a while since you may have felt it flow. When are you most alive and joyful in your life? If time and money weren’t a factor what would you do, who would you be? Who do you most admire and what do they inspire in you?

8. Take action. Take a risk. What’s one small thing you could do right now that could super charge your inspiration? All inspiration in world won’t move your life to next level. It takes inspired ACTION to do that.

9. Keep breathing. You probably forget to take deep full breaths. We have all learned to constrict our breathing in response to stress. According to many experts we not only need oxygen to stay alive, we need oxygen to give us energy and keep us healthy. Right now take 5 deep, full breaths.

10. Have fun. When was last time you played? Call a friend, take a bubble bath, take yourself to an art museum or schedule a whole day out in nature. Put on some great music and dance till you drop.

How will you feel when you get to end of your life and look back? There is so much opportunity and support out there to live your life with passion and purpose. You can do it, I did.

What have you got to lose?

It’s your life…imagine possibilities!