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Self Improvement > Time Management > Task Management for Headless Chickens
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Edward Mills
Tragedy in the chicken coop. In the early morning darkness, cries of alarm from the chickens and a furtive, tailless, feline form seen jumping the fence and fleeing the scene. At dawn the wreckage was clear; One chicken dead, another barely alive. The task of finishing the job begun by the bobcat fell to me.
Beyond a few trips to the petting zoo, my suburban upbringing provided no
opportunities to experience the realities of rural life. Since moving to the country
(wine country that is!) and acquiring our flock of laying hens - all seven of them -
it's been great fun watching them demonstrate the behaviors behind many of our
popular catch phrases: Flying the coop, hen-pecked, pecking order, home to roost. I
have seen them all in action. I was, however, hoping to avoid the need to witness
the reality behind the phrase "running around like a chicken with its head cut off."
Our friendly neighborhood bobcat provided me with that opportunity.
It is truly surreal to watch a headless chicken jump and flap around as if in search of
its lost head. Each time she appeared to be running out of juice I would take a
breath, thinking it was over only to be dismayed when the chaotic flapping began
again. A part of me wanted to run away, but I found myself transfixed by the bizarre
scene. If the chicken still had its head I would have shouted STOP, although I've
discovered while attempting to round up escaped birds, that even chickens with
their heads still attached are not known for their willingness to obey commands.
As I continued to watch the chicken, I felt a disconcerting sense of familiarity which I
attributed to the bizarre nature of the scene. But later that day, I caught myself
spinning as I tried to get a handle on a project. When I stopped and sat with the
feeling I realized that I was acting just like that headless chicken. I had entered
Headless Chicken Syndrome without realizing it. My head was buzzing happily
along, creating to-do lists and task completion plans, adding more projects on a
daily basis, while my body was slowly and silently slipping into overwhelm. There
was a disconnect between my head's desire to get things done and my body's ability
to do them; it was as if my head was, indeed, detached from my body. I realized that
just as I had wanted to shout stop to the chicken, I needed someone to shout STOP
to me!
While not quite a shout, there is a technique that Timothy Gallwey describes in his
book, The Inner Game of Work. The STOP technique is perfect for times when you
feel overwhelmed, confused or other symptoms of Headless Chicken Syndrome.
STOP stands for: Stop, Think, Organize your thoughts, Proceed. This is a great tool
to restore clarity, focus, and effectiveness.
There is one additional step I have found beneficial; Breathe. It doesn't quite fit into
the mnemonic - SBTOP - but that added step helps to bring a sense of calm to the
moment. If you stop and immediately begin to think, you may end up thinking while
your head is still detached from your body. Breathing brings your head and body
back together so that you can think from a whole body/being perspective. You are
able to then balance the analytical processes of the mind with the emotional and
physical intelligence of the body.
The mind is a wonderful thing but, left to its own devices, it has a certain
perspective that would place a high priority on everything. Have you ever attempted
to prioritize your "to-do" list only to discover that everything is the highest priority?
This is your mind speaking, and it can only lead you into trouble.
The intelligence we carry in our body has a much different perspective. The
priorities for my body are exercise, relaxation, time in nature and cooking good
food. Compare that to the priorities of my head: returning phone calls, checking
email, paying bills . . . You get the picture. Both perspectives are equally valid and
equally important to our well being. Finding the balance between the priorities of
the head and of the body is a crucial step in achieving a life of health and joy.
Here's an idea that may help you balance those needs. The next time you prioritize
your tasks, try this: Close your eyes and take five slow deep breaths. Let the breath
reconnect your head and body, and imagine that you are balancing your intellect
and emotions, your needs and desires. When you complete the breathing, speak this
intention, or something similar:
"Today I intend to create a to do list which supports the well being of my body,
mind and spirit. This to do list balances the needs of my head, the desires of my
body, and the purpose of my soul. In creating this list I acknowledge that my wants
are as important as my responsibilities and that by balancing play and work, self
care with responsibility, I enhance my well being and my ability to contribute to the
world in a more meaningful way."
When you have stated your intention, open your eyes, review your tasks and create a
balanced, life- affirming to do list.
The next time you find yourself in or entering Headless Chicken Syndrome,
remember SBTOP: Stop, Breathe, Think, Organize your thoughts, Proceed.
Edward Mills, MIM offers Intuitive Life Coaching for individuals and organizations.
He combines a solid business background with his intuitive skills to provide a
unique coaching perspective to help you step into your Full Potential. Sign up for his
monthly newsletter to find out more. Visit http://www.intuitivelifecoaching.com or email
info@intuitivelifecoaching.com.
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