What's On Fire Here?

One morning a few days ago, I found myself filled with determination interwoven with anxiety. I had a tremendous list of things that needed to get done that day. Needed. Really. Yet the truth of the matter was that I knew - down deep inside even though I wasn't acknowledging it yet - that the chances that I'd get it all done that day were vanishingly slim. Nonetheless, I was convinced I needed ... well, you get the picture.

and I'd be willing to bet that you've experienced that same feeling. Whether it's at work (with your boss expecting one thing, your co-workers waiting for something else, and an employee at your office door with a crisis) or at home (where the laundry is piling up, the lawn hasn't been mowed in weeks, and the kids have soccer and yoga and swimming, and when was the last time you had a chance to just sit down with a cup of tea?), you, like me, have undoubtedly been there. If you just grit your teeth and focus, really concentrate, surely you can get it all done. (And then you can have that cup of tea!)

Of course, you can't. Not only can't you get it all done, but chances are you'll reach the end of the day exhausted, irritable, and angry with yourself. You'll be angry either because you "failed," or because you recognize (too late!) that you set yourself up for failure - or both. Either way, of course, you're in a no-win, all-lose position. Not fun, and not necessary, either.

Fortunately for me, I stopped and listened to that little voice telling me what trouble I was getting myself into. Not only did I stop and listen, but I actually agreed with it instead of arguing.

Once I recognized the impossibility of what I was expecting of myself, I was able to look at that "need" to get things done. I asked myself one simple question: "What's on fire here?"

In other words, what on that list was going to have real, tangible, and serious consequences if it didn't get done? Where on the list were the truly time-sensitive actions that, left uncompleted, would result in a broken promise, an important opportunity lost, a critical step missed in a larger project or stream of events?

Everything else didn't "need" to get done that day. In all probability many of those tasks would be "on fire" later in the week, but right now, that day, they weren't burning. And that meant they could be postponed. With luck and a little concentration (and maybe some delegation!), I would be able to get to them before they went up in flames, but I wasn't going to worry about them that day.

What I found truly fascinating about this process was that it resulted in a very different list of priorities than I would have had if I'd just started with what most appealed to me, or what I thought at first glance were the most urgent tasks. And it was absolutely the right prioritization.

That question - "What's on fire here?" - has become a big part of my planning process now. While I obviously prefer to get to things before they are in crisis mode, this question ensures that I'm focusing on the real priorities, rather than the things I want to do or think I should do.

So next time you hear that little voice of reality saying you can't possibly complete all the tasks on your "need to do it" list, I challenge you to stop, listen, and ask yourself, "What's on fire here?" And then do those things, and postpone the rest.

"A major part of successful living lies in the ability to put first things first. Indeed, the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first." Robert J. McKain, author, nationality and dates unknown.

(c)Grace L. Judson

Helping professionals who feel trapped and want a sense of direction

About the Author

Grace Judson is the founder of and driving force behind Svaha Concepts.

Stuck in a "success plateau" and having a hard time figuring out reasons to get out of bed in the morning? For more information or to access my free resources (including my free newsletter), be sure to visit Svaha Concepts' website.

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9 Easy Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

So your blood pressure is high, but you dont want to take prescription drugs? Can't say I blame you, with what we've learned about some very popular pharmaceuticals over the last year or so. Well, you're in luck. There are some simple modifications you can incorporate into your lifestyle that can make a big difference when it comes to hypertension, and here are the top 9:

1. Eliminate salt from your diet. This is probably the most important change you can make. The main reason why you will hear people say "I tried cutting back on salt and it didn't do anything for my high blood pressure" is because they forgot about prepared convenience foods. If you start reading labels, you'll find that just about all these items (not just salty foods like chips and crackers) have added sodium. Really, if you want to cut way back on salt, the best way is just to eliminate anything that comes in a box or bag from your diet. Eat natural foods, which will help your health in many ways in addition to lowering your blood pressure.

2. Cut out white sugar. While scientists arent yet sure exactly why, many studies have shown that eating processed sugars elevates blood pressure. Also eliminate high fructose corn syrup, an ubiquitous sweetener that has even more detrimental effects on health than white sugar. If you need a sweet taste, try adding some stevia, an herbal sweetener that comes in powder and liquid form, or xylitol, a low-carb sugar alcohol, to your foods.

3. Get regular aerobic exercise. Anything that gets you moving and your heart rate comfortably elevated has a beneficial effect on hypertension. Your physician may be able to give you an exercise plan that suits your condition and current fitness levels. It's important not to do too much too soon. There are some Eastern forms of exercise, such as yoga and Tai Chi, that seem to have good effects on blood pressure. The emphasis on full, rhymthic breathing integral to these disciplines may be as important as the actual physical movement.

4. Increase the amount of fiber in your diet. This has been shown to have many benefits other than its effects on blood pressure. You can add fiber supplements to your diet, or eat more foods such as whole grains and vegetables, which brings me to the next tip....

5. Eat those veggies. There are myriad other benefits besides the increase in fiber associated with an increased intake of vegetables. These provide important vitamins and minerals, and other more recently discovered substances such as phytonutrients and antioxidants, which all help to keep your body functioning at an optimal level. One valuable nutrient contained in vegetables is potassium, and so our next tip is to....

6. Eat lots of bananas. Everyone knows that bananas are high in potassium, and it turns out that increasing the amount of potassium in our diet is almost as important as reducing one's salt intake with respect to normalizing blood pressure. As a matter of fact, some authorities think it's actually less about the amount of salt and more about increasing the ratio of potassium to sodium. We've mentioned bananas because they're the most popular fruit in the USA and are widely available, but if you want some high potassium alternatives, try dried apricots, figs, avocados, cantaloupe, raisins, carrot juice, prune juice, peanuts, and almonds.

7. Get that folic acid. This nutrient's been found to have a number of health benefits for women, and protecting against high blood pressure now seems to be another one. Harvard Medical School did a study which indicated that women could lower their risk of hypertension anywhere from 18% to 46%, depending on their age, by taking 1 mg (milligram) of folic acid per day.

8. Eat chocolate, but not too much. Some recent studies have indicated that 100 grams per day of dark chocolate can have blood pressure lowering effects. The researchers postulate that a component of dark chocolate known as flavinols is responsible. But remember, only 100 grams (around three or four ounces), and it needs to be dark chocolate. You'll need to read labels, because most chocolate candy these days uses light chocolate. And of course, chocolate always contains sugar. So if you can't stop at 100 grams, or you need to lose weight (100 grams of chocolate is usually around 500 calories) you'd probably be better off not to take that first bite.

9. And finally, dump those diet pills. You know they're no good for you. While losing weight is usually beneficial for blood pressure levels, doing it by speeding up your heartrate is not. Do it by eating the healthy foods mentioned above and you'll have lower blood pressure and a nutritious diet you can continue with for life.

Of course, if you're already taking any medications, do NOT stop them without consulting with your doctor first. He should be willing to work with you as you try natural options. If not, you may need a new doctor. Give these tips a try one at a time. Keep the ones that help, and when you're done, you'll have a healthier lifestyle for sure!

Joe Serpico is not a doctor, nor does he play one on TV, but he's been interested in health and fitness for over twenty-five years. Click on over to http://www.thehealthandfitnessguide.com for lots more great info.

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