WORKPLACE WELLNESS
Try elephant tasking when life overwhelms
Reward yourself for
completing jobs The increased activity of spring brings to mind a parable that uses the eating of an elephant as a metaphor for an overwhelming
situation. I was juggling many different tasks recently, when I received a newsletter from a colleague in which she writes of the merit of this analogy. “How would I eat an elephant if I had to?” When faced with much to do it helps to
think about this folk wisdom: If you have to eat an elephant, eat it one bite at a time and most likely not in one sitting. Spring is here. The smell of the
cherry blossoms, the different shades of pink unfolding, the beauty of the magnolias and the thousands of blooms appearing and soon disappearing again shows the power of life awakening.
The air is still fresh, yet the warmth of the midday sun is embracing. The rising energy brings vitality and an increased desire for activity. For many, it means
balancing the demands of work with the opportunity to tackle some of the muddy hiking trails around Vancouver. Before you undertake your feast look at your
life as a whole, set goals, prioritize and make various to-do lists. I find it well worth taking time to regularly re-evaluate how I use time in relation to what I really want out of life. I do numerous activities that I call maintenance
tasks; in relationship to work, these are the duties that come back day after day, month after month. These chores do not require much creativity, but need to be taken care of and they provide a strong foundation for my day to day.
Then there are activities that bring about changes in life. Developing new strategies, exploring new ways of doing things or taking classes to improve my
skills. If maintenance tasks consume too much time, there is little room for anything else. If I don’t allow the time to explore new opportunities they will not happen. I make different to-do lists: maintenance, life changing, urgent,
important, even a list of the outrageous. Be creative and see if you embrace the many dimensions of life in your priorities. Take care of the old to make
room for the new. Spring cleaning has always been part of my upbringing and I continue to value its timely effectiveness. Getting rid of the clutter of winter brings clarity and a sense of lightness. This is applicable to workplace
activities, but I would also extend it to the body and the mind. For example, more and more people are taking the time to do a spring cleanse to remove toxins from their bodies.
I like to also clean the windows so I can see the sun without the residue of months of rain. From this perspective I find it easier to contemplate the months ahead.
When you have a clear picture of what you wish to accomplish, listen to your rhythm and follow your instincts. Having a fixed schedule provides a good structure, but
if it is too rigid it may feel like a corset preventing movement (most men I know would look horrible in a corset). If your work allows flexible time, you can take little bite or eat a whole chunk of your elephant depending on how you
feel. I find that orchestrating my daily activities with natural rhythms – instead of having these tasks govern my time – brings more harmony between the
inner and outer parts of my life. This attitude fosters appropriate responses to an ever changing environment and leaves me feeling fulfilled. It’s not
possible to eat your elephant in one sitting, but when you are able to cross one item off your list, savor it; enjoy the satisfaction of finishing something, reward yourself and celebrate. This simple generosity toward yourself will give
you energy to face what’s left on your plate. PS. No elephants were hurt in the process of writing this story. |
