I used to think "burn out" was caused by fatigue. Then years ago, I heard a speaker say something interesting: burn out happens when we lose sight of our goals. If fatigue caused burn out, marathoners and other endurance athletes would suffer from it more than anyone!
Since that time, I have experimented. When I have started to feel burnt out, I have taken time to step back and re-evaluate what I am trying to accomplish. Re-establishing my goals has worked every time! I have felt a sense of purpose again and even when I am tired, I have been able to push ahead with renewed enthusiasm.
The idea of taking regular breaks is not new. Numerous philosophies and religions advocate spending time in meditation/introspection. Athletes experience the effects of "overtraining" if they do not allow for times of rest.
It is the mindset of our culture which results in burnout and discourages healthy rest and relaxation. The key is to decide to actually take a break from work and from the routines of daily life. Try it. It works and it's worth it!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Greed and Selfishness
Who has not heard of the economic crisis? And what caused it? The bottom line is greed. Greed and selfishness have torn our economy apart. It will also tear our society apart.
In order for a society to be healthy, there needs to be a degree of selflessness. People are united when they are looking out for each other. When people reach a certain degree of selfishness, society loses its cohesiveness.
Ayn Rand said altruism was foolishness, but she was wrong. When it's "every man for himself", when we no longer care for others more than we care for ourselves, when all we strive for is what we can get, we are in big trouble and it looks to me like that is where we are headed. The problems we are currently having with our economy are only the tip of the iceberg. Unless the rampant greed in our society is reined in, our country will be fractured beyond repair.
In order for a society to be healthy, there needs to be a degree of selflessness. People are united when they are looking out for each other. When people reach a certain degree of selfishness, society loses its cohesiveness.
Ayn Rand said altruism was foolishness, but she was wrong. When it's "every man for himself", when we no longer care for others more than we care for ourselves, when all we strive for is what we can get, we are in big trouble and it looks to me like that is where we are headed. The problems we are currently having with our economy are only the tip of the iceberg. Unless the rampant greed in our society is reined in, our country will be fractured beyond repair.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Kids (2)
One of my students' moms stopped me this morning and asked what I had taught in her son's class yesterday. I couldn't quite remember. She then told me she had asked her son last night what he had learned in school.
"Well, in math we learned about proctology or proctologists or something." *
Then I remembered: I had taught them how to use a protractor.
* http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proctology
"Well, in math we learned about proctology or proctologists or something." *
Then I remembered: I had taught them how to use a protractor.
* http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proctology
Thursday, August 21, 2008
"Tyranny of the Urgent"
I thought technology was supposed to save us time and effort. I'm not sure it's working...
I remember when I was a kid and we got our first dishwasher. Supposedly you just stuck the dirty dishes in, turned it on, and voila, out came the clean dishes! But in reality, if you don't clean off the dishes first, they don't always come out clean. I suppose the dishes are more sanitary than if I washed them by hand, but what happened to saving time?
What about computers? I remember the first desktop computer we got at work. It was great! Suddenly I could print off lists and keep track of inventory without writing everything out by hand. Twenty years later, my computers still help me get work done faster and easier, but they have also increased my workload because now I am blogging, checking e-mail, and surfing the 'net, all of which I never did before. My life is not more relaxed and at times, it threatens to spin out of my control.
This has all forced me to reconsider my priorities. With less free time, I have to really think about what is important. While I really like to read e-mail, paying bills takes precedence. Surfing the internet is very relaxing after work, but when it's my night to make dinner, I have to choose between the surfing and dealing with a frustrated wife. Thanks, but I can leave the surfing for later...
In 1976, Charles Hummel wrote a classic essay called, "Tyranny of the Urgent". (see http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2004/s04120111.htm) At that time, Hummel wrote that the telephone was one of the biggest distractions, and that was before cell phones! The shrill ring (or ring tone) of a phone captures our attention and demands an immediate response.
We need to distinguish between what is "urgent" and what is "important". Many urgent things demand our attention, but just because something seems urgent does not mean it is important. If we are willing to take a few minutes each day to sift through all we have to do and sort our list(s) into what is important and what is merely urgent, we can experience a sense of accomplishment and peace. On the other hand, if we give in to the demands of the "urgent", we will feel harried, tired, burnt out, and exhausted.
I remember when I was a kid and we got our first dishwasher. Supposedly you just stuck the dirty dishes in, turned it on, and voila, out came the clean dishes! But in reality, if you don't clean off the dishes first, they don't always come out clean. I suppose the dishes are more sanitary than if I washed them by hand, but what happened to saving time?
What about computers? I remember the first desktop computer we got at work. It was great! Suddenly I could print off lists and keep track of inventory without writing everything out by hand. Twenty years later, my computers still help me get work done faster and easier, but they have also increased my workload because now I am blogging, checking e-mail, and surfing the 'net, all of which I never did before. My life is not more relaxed and at times, it threatens to spin out of my control.
This has all forced me to reconsider my priorities. With less free time, I have to really think about what is important. While I really like to read e-mail, paying bills takes precedence. Surfing the internet is very relaxing after work, but when it's my night to make dinner, I have to choose between the surfing and dealing with a frustrated wife. Thanks, but I can leave the surfing for later...
In 1976, Charles Hummel wrote a classic essay called, "Tyranny of the Urgent". (see http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2004/s04120111.htm) At that time, Hummel wrote that the telephone was one of the biggest distractions, and that was before cell phones! The shrill ring (or ring tone) of a phone captures our attention and demands an immediate response.
We need to distinguish between what is "urgent" and what is "important". Many urgent things demand our attention, but just because something seems urgent does not mean it is important. If we are willing to take a few minutes each day to sift through all we have to do and sort our list(s) into what is important and what is merely urgent, we can experience a sense of accomplishment and peace. On the other hand, if we give in to the demands of the "urgent", we will feel harried, tired, burnt out, and exhausted.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Kids
Art Linkletter used to host a show called, "Kids Say The Darndest Things" on TV.
I teach school and the other day I gave my students a survey. One question was, "What does it take to be a good friend?"
The answers were great: "You have to support your friends", "Be nice", "Tell the truth", "Have fun!", etc. I was so impressed I put all their comments together in a Power Point presentation and showed it to them. We talked for a while about friends and what it takes to have a good relationship before it was time for them to go home.
Afterward, the cynical side of me began to speak up: "That's only how they want to be treated by the other kids. They're not going to really treat other people that way." I have been teaching for a long time, long enough to know they are still pretty egocentric at their age. I love them anyway.
So now I'm playing the waiting game: will they actually be good friends to each other or will they just demand that others be nice to them?
Time will tell.
I teach school and the other day I gave my students a survey. One question was, "What does it take to be a good friend?"
The answers were great: "You have to support your friends", "Be nice", "Tell the truth", "Have fun!", etc. I was so impressed I put all their comments together in a Power Point presentation and showed it to them. We talked for a while about friends and what it takes to have a good relationship before it was time for them to go home.
Afterward, the cynical side of me began to speak up: "That's only how they want to be treated by the other kids. They're not going to really treat other people that way." I have been teaching for a long time, long enough to know they are still pretty egocentric at their age. I love them anyway.
So now I'm playing the waiting game: will they actually be good friends to each other or will they just demand that others be nice to them?
Time will tell.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Love & War
Sometimes I just don't understand what people are thinking...
I was driving home the other day when I saw a car with a big grenade logo on the back window so I started thinking, "Is this person really trying to promote violence? A hand grenade is a pretty violent symbol." When I glanced back at the car, I saw a small sticker on a side window that said, "Peace".
What is up with that?!?
I was driving home the other day when I saw a car with a big grenade logo on the back window so I started thinking, "Is this person really trying to promote violence? A hand grenade is a pretty violent symbol." When I glanced back at the car, I saw a small sticker on a side window that said, "Peace".
What is up with that?!?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Politics & Religion
So...two topics that are almost guaranteed to cause pandemonium, the two things you don't talk about if you want to get along with others. Why is that?
People have strong opinions/feelings about a lot of things: the environment, sports teams, civil rights, gay marriage, etc. What's the big deal about politics and religion?
Re: politics. I think the media distorts a lot about politicians on both sides of the fence so I am skeptical when I read anything about any candidate. I try to get as much information as I can from all types of sources (the media, the candidate's website, blogs, personal contact) to try to put together a more accurate picture of who they are. I have discovered that most politicians are regular people!
Re: religion. I understand that some of us have been hurt by people who claim to be "religious". That makes sense, but apart from that, people believe so many different things, even within the same religious organizations, it seems like we should be more open/tolerant.
And apart from political/religious affliation, what do these two things have in common that they should both provoke people so much?
I just don't quite get it...
People have strong opinions/feelings about a lot of things: the environment, sports teams, civil rights, gay marriage, etc. What's the big deal about politics and religion?
Re: politics. I think the media distorts a lot about politicians on both sides of the fence so I am skeptical when I read anything about any candidate. I try to get as much information as I can from all types of sources (the media, the candidate's website, blogs, personal contact) to try to put together a more accurate picture of who they are. I have discovered that most politicians are regular people!
Re: religion. I understand that some of us have been hurt by people who claim to be "religious". That makes sense, but apart from that, people believe so many different things, even within the same religious organizations, it seems like we should be more open/tolerant.
And apart from political/religious affliation, what do these two things have in common that they should both provoke people so much?
I just don't quite get it...
So what's this blog about?
It's becoming common to allow people to post comments on websites. The site I often check for the latest news now allows readers to express their opinions. I can only read that stuff for a short while before I get tired of the tirades back and forth:
"Hey, littleman, you are a real idiot! Everyone knows McCain is in the pocket of big oil...",
"At least I'm a 'real' idiot, lostinthought. You are a ***** moron! Obama is going to ruin this county...", etc.
I've heard all back-and-forth namecalling rants I care to so I thought I'd like to see a site where opinions are expressed and considered and respected whether folks agree with them or not. A "market place" of ideas offered, traded, and accepted or rejected.
Why not?
"Hey, littleman, you are a real idiot! Everyone knows McCain is in the pocket of big oil...",
"At least I'm a 'real' idiot, lostinthought. You are a ***** moron! Obama is going to ruin this county...", etc.
I've heard all back-and-forth namecalling rants I care to so I thought I'd like to see a site where opinions are expressed and considered and respected whether folks agree with them or not. A "market place" of ideas offered, traded, and accepted or rejected.
Why not?
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