Tap4Health EFT Practice » time management

What are you doing because you think you should?

rodsherwin — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:05:48 +0000

Sometimes we continue to do things in our lives because we think we should, yet these activities have long since lost any meaning for us. Here’s some examples of how this can show up:

going to a religious establishment regularly with no interest, because you think you should
working in a career you’re unhappy with, because you think you should
donating money to a charity, because you think you should
agreeing with what someone says even when you don’t, because you think you should
studying for a degree that doesn’t interest you, because you think you should

Some of these activities are important AND I’m asking you to check in on your motivation for doing these things. Are you doing them because they give you a deep sense of fulfillment and contribute to your happiness, or are you doing them because you think you should? One feels like being drawn forward, one feels like being pushed; and who likes to be pushed around?

Think about the activities that fill your life and identify something that feels like a “should”. You’re not really enjoying it and if you felt you had a choice, you would rather be doing something else. Identify one thing that your doing and apply the following EFT sequence using this EFT tapping points
guide:

Karate Chop:	Even though I think I should be doing this but don’t really want to, I accept how I feel. Even though I’m doing this because others think I should, I give myself permission to make up my own mind. Even though I’m doing this activity out of obligation rather than joy, I choose to release the obligation and check in with what brings me true joy and happiness.
Head:	Feel like I should do this
Eyebrows:	Feeling obligated to do this
Side of Eyes:	Can I recognise the choice I have to do this?
Under Eyes:	Doing this because I think I should
Under Nose:	Finding a way to do what will being me lasting happiness
Chin Point:	What would it mean if I chose not to do this?
Collarbones:	What choice am I overlooking in doing this?
Under Arms:	This feeling of being pushed
Wrist Points:	What feeling drives this obligation?
Head:	I’m ready to make a choice that will serve myself and others
Eyebrows:	Don’t want to ‘should’ on myself anymore?
Side of Eyes:	I choose to love and respect myself by making a mature, responsible, and joyful choice
Under Eyes:	Still feeling obligated to continue down this path
Under Nose:	What are the consequences if I change my mind now?
Chin Point:	Still feeling obligated to do this
Collarbones:	Am I missing the true joy to be found in this?
Under Arms:	What would make me even more happy?
Wrist Points:	accept the choice I make that’s deeply congruent with who I really am, and each day seek ways to move towards even more joy.

Depending on your investment in the activity you may not be able to change your path immediately. If it’s a change of career, you still need to pay the bills while you change careers. But if you can make little improvements each day that move you towards what you want and away from what you don’t want, letting go of the shoulds and embracing the joy along the way, your life will definitely change for the better.Related Posts:

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

rodsherwin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:49:20 +0000

Much stress in our lives is caused by our ability, or lack there of, to manage our priorities and productivity. Getting Things Done is by far the most practical book I have come across for time management. It takes all the theory of other time management systems, explains why that doesn’t work in practice and then shows you methods that support the way your brain naturally works. The book itself is incredibly time friendly in that it explains the whole system by the third chapter allowing you to implement it straight away. You can then read the remainder of the book as you find yourself with more time available.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen
NB This book has also been published under the title “How to Get Things Done”.Related Posts:

How to Take a Break and Enjoy It!

rodsherwin — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:34:43 +0000

Maybe you’re a small-business owner, maybe you’re a full-time housewife or husband; maybe you’re a single parent with two jobs. Whatever your responsibilities in life, how often do you give yourself permission to take a break?

As a business owner who loves what I do, I always feel the urge to be doing something, whether it’s working with clients or promoting my business.

“If you love what you do, is it really work?” This was the question I fired back to a friend who asked me about actually taking a day off. I was aware that my world had become a little one-dimensional so I decided to try going a whole day without turning on the computer, without sitting at my desk, without writing anything and just relax.

Doing nothing wasn’t as easy I thought. I had several of those internal arguments during the first part of the day. You know, the ones where one part of your mind is saying:

“You should just finish that bit of writing. I’m only going to read emails for a little while. I really have to get that web page done. I’ll just do some more chores and then relax”

and sometime things get even more intense,

“You lazy sod, you haven’t done enough work this week to take time out. There’s people depending on you and you want to lie around and do nothing?!”

Anyway you get the idea. I’m sure you have your own thoughts that come up along the same lines. Thank goodness I don’t consider using EFT as work, as I was able to tap on many of these thoughts and enjoy not only 1 day off but two consecutive days off which is something I hadn’t done for a long time.

Whatever length of time you take to rest and recuperate, whether it is 5 minutes, 1 hour, or 1 month, here is some EFT that will help you get the maximum benefit from it.

Using this EFT tapping points guide, start and continue tapping on the indicated point while saying:

Karate Chop Point:	Even though I feel guilty taking a break, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway. Even though there is always more to do than hours in the day, I choose to enjoy this moment fully. Even though I’m not sure I remember how to relax given all my responsibilities, I’m enjoying exploring the feeling. Even though I’ve got into the habit of always being busy, I choose to love and forgive myself Even though I’m not sure I deserve this break, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Top of Head:	Too much to do
Eyebrows:	Can’t stop now
Side of Eyes:	It all has to be done today
Under Eyes	No-one else can do this but me
Under Nose:	I don’t know how to relax
Chin Point:	Too many things to think about
Collarbones:	I can’t sit still for more than five minutes
Under Arms:	Who else will do these things if I don’t
Wrists:	Don’t deserve to take care of myself

Continue for another round:

Top of Head:	If I stop will I be able to get started again?
Eyebrows:	I shouldn’t take too long
Side of Eyes:	I wonder how I can really enjoy this time out?
Under Eyes	I appreciate myself taking this time just for me
Under Nose:	But I’ll have to work doubly hard tomorrow to make up for it
Chin Point:	I’m feeling guilty, anxious and nervous about this
Collarbones:	What if someone finds out, will they think I’m lazy
Under Arms:	I thank myself for taking this time
Wrists:	How can others support me in relaxing even more?

And last round:

Top of Head:	With each breath, I’m feeling more relaxed, more recharged
Eyebrows:	I should do this more often
Side of Eyes:	It feels good to enjoy this reward
Under Eyes	Why was it so easy for me to organise this time off?
Under Nose:	Even though I’ve relaxed now
Chin Point:	I still have my drive and hunger when I want it
Collarbones:	Being in balance helps me be even more productive
Under Arms:	Thank you for the gift this time is
Wrists:	I appreciate and thank myself for giving my body, mind and soul this time

These rounds of tapping will help you relax in the moment. If time management and overwork are something you experience most of the time then you might want to explore what drives you so hard and continue to apply some more EFT.

I also highly recommend the book Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity which has now become recognised as one of the greatest time management systems of all time. The book itself is very well written, entertaining and easy to read.Related Posts: