#157 September 12th, 2024

How to tackle big overwhelming projects

You have got to have things scheduled in your calendar if you’re going to get them done, but sometimes even that isn’t enough. You sit down to do the work, but then you just procrastinate. This author thinks the issue is usually that the project is way too big, so you must break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. The ultimate task you are working toward becomes much less daunting that way. You can break it down enough that every block of time on your calendar is an individual step, which is a great way to reduce that sense of overwhelm that leads to procrastination. Try to block off tasks that involve similar ways of thinking and working to each other so that you can work more efficiently. Doing the work up front to design a plan to tackle your big project can pay off big time down the road, as opposed to just diving in without much focus. It’s about progress over a long time, not getting everything done at once. When you see yourself gaining momentum by completing these smaller steps it helps give you the drive and momentum to keep going, instead of feeling trapped by not getting that much closer to your ultimate huge goal.?

Unsure about the future?

This article talks about a common struggle for people in their 20s and 30s known as the TBC, or “to be confirmed” period. There is an unavoidable and high degree of uncertainty to life in general when we are that age. Many people are searching for a lifetime partner but unable to find one, they are not firmly established in their career, or they may not even know what they want their career to be. Mix that in with a very fast changing world and a constant barrage of news, and you have a recipe for anxiety and worry about the future. A solution can be to embrace the uncertainty rather than be afraid of it. Accept it as a feature, not a bug. Don’t be so eager to get to a more certain future that you miss out on everything you are experiencing now in the present. Wouldn’t it be a shame to be a stable 40 year old but you don’t even remember much of your younger years because you wished them away? We need to stop more along the way to appreciate how far we’ve come. This can be extra tough because it feels like society and social media are putting a ton of pressure on you to have everything all figured out. Stability and certainty make us feel safe, but we can find more peace if we accept that for many young people instability is just a natural and unavoidable part of life. Stress comes from fighting to change things that you cannot control. Peace comes from acceptance. Kindness towards yourself and acceptance of wherever you are now can be a huge help.

Agree to disagree can lead to feuds and fallouts

This article gives advice on how to handle team disagreements at work when brainstorming and making decisions. Do you use the tactic to “agree to disagree” if a conflict with someone reaches an impasse? This article argues that you should replace that mindset with “disagree and commit” instead. Once a decision has been made, you want everyone to support it moving forward, especially those that disagreed with it during the debate phase of the decision. The reasoning is you do not want to move forward if some team members arent on board with what was decided because they might potentially try to undermine what they disagreed with. Even if they aren’t fully aware, they try to prove that they were correct and that the team should have done what they wanted. You want all of your oars rowing in the right direction. It’s great to have disagreement and healthy debate when making the decision, but then once it has been decided you must put those disagreements behind you and move forward together.

An 80 year old Harvard study found the secret to a happy life

This is another article on the new book from the leading researches in charge of the 80 year Harvard study on what leads to true happiness for people: relationships. The article has some simple and easy tips on how we all can improve the relationships with the people that matter the most to us. First you have to take an honest look at the current state of your relationships. Which are you happy with, and which do you want to improve? You don’t have to drastically change things; even just one more conversation a day catching up with a friend can make a big difference. You do have to be intentional about making time for other people . It’s so easy for the day-to-day busyness of life to crowd out our friendships and relationships.Don’t let your ego keep you from apologizing when you do mess up, which we all will do at times. No one is perfect. Ask questions when you speak with others, and genuinely listen to the answers, don’t just talk about yourself. Constantly remind people how much you care about them. You may think it goes without saying, but isn’t it nice to remind people? Creating deep relationships inevitably involves opening up about yourself and maybe the things you struggle with, which can be scary. But if you never risk putting yourself out there, you will never make any real connections. It is so worth it!

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CPA tip of the week: This is what happens when you see LinkedIn posts about people passing the CPA exam.

You never know what someone had to go through to reach that point.

Every single candidate faces their own blend of difficult obstacles and challenges to overcome.