Meetings are often seen as unproductive or unnecessary. So how can we make them better?
Zoom has created a Mindful Meetings Checklist, offering us simple steps for making our meetings happier and more productive.
Could this checklist help you? Do you have anything you would like to add to it?
What can we do in times like these to improve our mood? How can we bring more inspiration into our lives? What new things can we try out?
Anita Klein, Laughter Wellness Consultant and owner of the Lachscheune, gave us lots of ideas in her latest newsletter. Here are just a few of them:
Has this list inspired you to try out something new or to create your own list even? If so, I’d love to hear what you’re planning to do.
In a recent ice-breaker exercise, we spoke about Little Known Facts (also known as LKF—facts that not many people know about us). I told the group that I used to breed hamsters. Mind you, that’s going back a few years!
That led us on to talking about “Hamsterkäufe”.
Last year there was a lot of talk about people stockpiling (which is planned) and panic buying (which is impulsive) in Germany. Toilet paper became one of the most sought-after products—together with disinfectants and soap.
Perhaps panic buying is a normal response in times of uncertainty?
As Steven Taylor says, “If everyone else on the Titanic is running for the lifeboats, you’re going to run too, regardless if the ship’s sinking or not”.
Food for thought?
(The German word “hamstern” can be translated with “to hoard”.)
“Stop looking at what other people are doing and look at what you’re achieving. Stop looking sideways, look at where you’re going.”
Jocelyn Glei, Manage your Day to Day
Reading this quotation reminds me of a word I’ve only heard of recently—comparisonitis.
Do you know the feeling of comparing yourself to others in your business? Feeling that everyone else is doing things better? You read other people’s texts and watch their videos and wonder whether you’ll be able to produce anything similar one day?
Of course, it’s not good. Of course, it’s pointless comparing ourselves to others. Of course, it limits our potential.
Isn’t comparisonitis fear in disguise? Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of rejection?
So what should we be doing instead? Shouldn’t we be focusing more on what we do well, on our own progress, on valuing our successes and on enjoying the journey at the same time?
We are all special, unique and good enough. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves now and again?
Do you ever have moments when you compare yourself to others and are dissatisfied with yourself? How do you manage those feelings?
If that’s too personal to write here, you can always send me an email. I love hearing from my readers.
This is a question James Clear asked in a recent newsletter of his.
“If I keep doing what I am about to do today for the next five years, will I end up with more of what I want or less of what I want?”
I thought it was a great question to reflect on.
A penny for your thoughts? (We use this phrase when we want to know what the other person is thinking. One could translate it as, “Ich würde gern wissen, was Sie jetzt denken/was Du jetzt denkst?”!)
Have you got 6 minutes to spare and would like to do something for your English? Then listen to a BBC Learning English podcast.
It’s at intermediate level, and you’ll find some of the most difficult vocabulary and a rough transcript on each page.
Which topic could inspire you?
Naked in nature
What’s the key to happiness
Working for yourself
Will Covid-19 change cities?
Or have you found another one?
