How to do less, and achieve more (while also reducing stress levels)

With the clocks going back in October, you may already be looking forward to that extra hour gained. However, for time-starved professionals, the shorter darker days that follow can also leave you feeling there is less time for your over-flowing ‘life-min’ list.

Fortunately, the Consider it Done team is on hand so you can do less and achieve more (reducing stress levels in the process). Our high calibre UK-based personal assistants offer a crucial lifeline for over-stretched professionals. Whether it’s finding childcare, or a half-term break that you need, perhaps there’s a backlog of expenses or stagnating home projects - whatever it is, we’re here for you.

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

- John Lennon

Time hack of the month: Super-charger

Have you ever glanced down at your phone with minutes to spare before leaving the house for the day, and realised the battery is low? Here’s a simple but effective life-saver: super-charge it.

This ultra fast charger is compatible with all kinds of devices and cables (and is currently reduced on Amazon). Take a look HERE.

Sue said: “I can’t tell you how many times this little piece of tech has saved the day - my phone is ready to go in a fraction of the usual time.”

PRO TIP: Look after your device’s battery life by not charging it above 85%, and not allowing it to fall below 15%. The levels can be pre-set in some phones’ software. Check your settings.

Making the most of an extra hour

In case you hadn’t already clocked it, the UK will be putting the time back by an hour on Sunday 29th October at 2am, taking us back to Greenwich Meantime and marking the end of British Summer Time.

Whilst it would be so easy to fritter this extra hour away, sleep through it or even forget about it, here are 8 ways to super-charge your time:

• Think of someone you haven’t spoken to in forever – call them.
• Unplug. Yes, go off grid for an hour. Imagine.
• Find silence. Considered to be one of the most therapeutic things people with hectic lives can do. Find it in a museum, a library reading room or one of THESE tranquil places in London.
• Remember that treat you promised yourself? The new café you wanted to try out / film you wanted to see – here’s your chance.
• Venture out of your comfort zone, just for an hour. Try a new training workout / gym / class / sport (the Evening Standard recently pulled together THIS list of the best new fitness classes to try in London this Autumn).
• Do a good turn. Spend the hour with an elderly neighbour.
• Start that thing you can’t get around to. Write the first page of your book. Start that course. Firm up holiday dates. Book a personal trainer. Contact the business coach. Gather pensions paperwork. Write down those business ideas.
• Or - delegate a list of actions for your CiD PA team – and create another 8 hours of available time - the best ROI you could make with your one extra hour.

“CiD have literally transformed my life. From always sinking with admin, they have enabled me to focus on my day job and reach my full potential. They read my mind and are always one step ahead.”

- Hayley Dawes

Read, watch and listen

READ: '5 Simple but Impactful Ways to Slow Down Your Day’ - Inc

(3 min read)

WATCH: ‘How to turn busy into balance’ - Sara Cameron

(12 min video with sound/subtitles)

LISTEN: ‘Guided Meditation to Lower Blood Pressure’ - Declutter The Mind

(10 min video with sound)

Science news: Being busy is good for your neurons

A study carried out by The Dallas Lifespan Brain Study (DLBS) showed that participants reporting high degrees of busyness in their lives could show better brain processing speed, working memory, episodic memory (remembering details of events), verbal fluency, reasoning and crystallized knowledge.

The study found that dealing with lots of new information promotes the growth of new neurons and the development of neural scaffolding and brain reserves, allowing the brain to be more efficient.

The full article is HERE.

Conclusion: Stay busy. It’s good for your brain. (It’s the stress you don’t need.)

We lowered our clients stress levels this week when we...

• Had a smashed iPad screen fixed
• Automated the road tax renewals – almost towed away last time!
• Rescued a laptop left on the plane

To discover more about the ways we support our clients, book a brief explore call or virtual coffee with Sue at a time/date that works easily for you HERE.