Do you believe you have to work harder, faster & longer to succeed in your veterinary practice?
Most of us accomplish far less than we can or should because we’ve been ‘taught’ that working faster, harder and longer is the way to get the ‘success’ outcome that we are all after.
Well – that’s a myth.
We are NOT automatons, nor are we designed to work like computers – continuous, high output all the time.
We are human beings with two distinct ‘energy rhythms’.
When we learn to use these rhythms correctly, we can actually decrease our hours worked and DO MORE. We can in fact do 12 hours of work in 4. Start to learn how by reading more here.
There are only 4 basic ways we can feel at any time of the day
1. High positive energy (the performance zone).
When we are trying to accomplish a task or trying to reach a goal this is the best place to be.
2. High negative energy or survival zone.
We default into this zone when we experience threat or danger or even PERCEIVE that there is a danger. This is well known to all of us as the flight or fight reflex. This is a ‘reaction’ or ‘reactive’ zone; a no-thinking zone. This zone is excellent when a lion is charging or if there is a fire nearby. However in modern society, often now an angry boss, a difficult task, a tough economy or a challenging client or co-worker is PERCEIVED to be a danger – and we default into this zone.
Our body makes no distinction and still floods us with stress hormones which shut down the prefrontal cortex and thereby stop all thinking. If your job requires you to think – this is not a good zone to be in. It’s a very expensive zone (from many perspectives) in which to be and if you spend a long time here then you will ultimately drop into the lower left…..
3. Low negative energy or ‘burn-out’ zone.
Very little needs to be said about this zone as we are all only too aware of its destructiveness.
4. Which leaves us with the lower right zone – This is the magical or X-factor zone or renewal zone.
Until now it’s been a much-undervalued zone with little credence being given to it or to its function. In some circles, it was even criticised. People ‘using’ this zone was regarded as ‘slackers’, as under or poor performers, etc.
There have always been people who used this zone to great effect – for the renewal that it achieved for them. However, this was done more by happenstance than by design. With increasing knowledge of how important this zone is and how it works, we can now learn to use it with volition!
Consciously ‘dropping into’ this zone for between 10 and 30 minutes is to engage in ‘magic’. The renewal that occurs is indeed very powerful. ‘Dropping-in’ can be through the use of;
- breathing exercises,
- power nap,
- nature-walk,
- workout,
- listening to music,
- eating nuts and fruit,
- meditating,
- or, whatever works for you.
Do what will allow conscious ‘renewal’ to occur for you.
When you feel or sense that your energy is dropping or decreasing – e.g. at end of 90 minutes of intense work or in the face of a very stressful encounter then you can intentionally choose to go into this zone to renew and recharge.
Actionable – Start today
1. Get adequate sleep
A minimum of 7 to 8 hours per night. In order to be fully rested and to be functioning optimally we need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep daily. Only 2.5% of the population needs less than 7 hours of sleep.
2. Do the most important thing first every morning
Work on the most important tasks first thing every morning for between 45 and 90 minutes. A specific start time and a specific stop time need to be scheduled, followed by a 20 to 30-minute period of renewal. You will get an incredible amount more done and of much higher quality.
3. Awareness exercise – Take stock of what energy zone/quadrant you are in 3 to 4 times per day (for example – when you wake up, at lunchtime and then mid-afternoon). Which zone are you in and why? Could it be that you haven’t eaten properly, had an argument or could it be due to poor diet or lack of sleep? What’s influencing you to not be in the performance zone – what’s keeping you from being at your best?
4. Self-Awareness
Put aside at least an hour to ask yourself some important questions: Who are you? What do you stand for? And write your answers in a journal.
- What do you really want – what’s your true purpose in life?
- What is it that is really most meaningful to do – what do you love to do that could add value to the world? Start to visit and revisit that question.
If you would like to know more or have any questions, just ask them in the Comments section below.
