Productivity + Organisation = Wellness?

I had a great opportunity to get organised and productive today – leaving the office with my Inbox at it’s lowest for many months, and a fully planned out list of actions to complete next week.

For the first time in ages – I managed to get ahead of my work and spend some time performing a sweep of my inbox and other main collection points.

Nothing unusual there.

Except this time, driving home, I felt physically lighter, happier, and ready for enjoying the weekend. It was an excellent feeling – and I’ll be planning that exercise in every Friday evening from now on.

Reasons…

reasons

Monday morning – and the temperature is set to hit 30 degrees celsius today, how could I need any more reasons to be cheerful?

  • I’m off to Brighton for a couple of days – disconnected from work, nice hotel, nice dinner, a walk around the Laines, maybe some time on the seafront.
  • Very close to making an hire on a new member of my team, have met some great people whilst interviewing, looking forward to building the team out.
  • OH yeah, did I mention – its THIRTY degrees celsius out there? Life doesn’t get any better.

Why are you cheerful today?

Reasons

reasons

Monday morning again – and I’m convinced this one is going to be a great one. Why do I think that?

I have tons of reasons:

  • The weekend was great, I made chicken soup, bought a new 24 inch monitor for the home office – and a bike for me to go riding with my son. I even managed to relax some.
  • This picture from Shorpy made me smile – I love the look on the guys face as he holds the fluffy pooch – and the chin up on the lady on the kerb. Fantastic.
  • I’m recruiting for a new tech lead position in my team – I love the interviewing process, getting to meet new & smart people, and hopefully helping someone’s career is one of the best bits of my job.
  • The football season ended with a win for my team. It wasn’t a great season – but now we have the world cup to look forward to.

Hope your week is as awesome as mine is going to be – what are your reasons?

Reasons #11

reasons

Monday rolls round – and another week stretches out before us, ready for us to make our mark. Amazing how a little sunshine here in Berkshire can brighten the mood, here are my reasons to be cheerful this week.

  • First BBQ of the year yesterday with lovely family and friends, steaks, salads and a couple of cold beers rounded the weekend off just nicely.
  • Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings release their new album today – I Learned the Hard Way, very excited to hear this, sounds reminiscent of the sould and funk sounds of the late 60’s and 70’s – James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner. Great stuff for spring sunshine.
  • 50% exactly at clay shooting yesterday in Wokingham – I’m slowly getting better and learning my way into handling a shotgun.
  • Aliens almost certainly exist – says Steven Hawking, but apparently we should stay well clear!
  • It is international #boobquake day, to test if cleavage can cause earthquakes (seriously he really said it)… I am generally in favour of this.
  • My new shed got delivered this morning! An Englishmans shed is his castle apparently, so I’m finally building my castle.

What are your reasons to be cheerful today?

Reasons #10

reasons

Gadzooks! I broked my website AND went away for a weekend with no PC! I could blog from my netbook, but I had no tools to fix me up! Anyways I’m back, it’s Monday morning and I’m feeling might chipper today…here’s some reasons why:

  • I had a great weekend in the countryside, fresh air and blue skies are the best thing to recharge the batteries and prepare for the weekend ahead.
  • Rob gave 2000 people a high-five on the way to work in New York…watch the smiles crack over otherwise thoroughly depressed faces, there are 2000 people with at least one more reason to be cheerful.
  • I have a key hiring decision that will be completed tomorrow – meaning a new addition to my team is imminent.
  • The volcano is still spewing ash clouds over Europe – but on the upside, a temporary hiatus on travel cannot be a bad thing for us frequent travellers. A chance to get ahead maybe? A chance to use some of the technology at our disposal to stay in contact with remote stakeholders?
  • This Jay-Z parody is awesome – bought to you from New Hampshire…
  • Although I didn’t get the job, things are still good and I’m really excited about the next few months at work.

What makes you so cheerful today?

Reasons #9

reasons

Monday morning, I’ve taken Nick’s advice and I’m in the office at 8.25 not 8.33, the blank page of a new week stretches out for me… what reasons do I have to be cheerful this morning:

  • My list of actions for this week is clear, concise and well planned – I’m ready to achieve. Is yours? Are you?
  • Classic movie quotes get the infographics treatment – ‘places to put baby’ is my favourite
  • Crazy in Love by Beyonce gets the piano cover treatment with 1930’s (?) video– this one is excellent, check out the other work by Maxence Cyrin.
  • I’m not travelling anywhere – last week was disjointed with trips to Germany in the middle of four day week – this week, I’m in my office, where I can be organised and creative.
  • This infographic about infographics might cause a rip in the fabric of space and time – but it made me smile on the way.
  • Plan B is an English singer, rapper and actor who has a ‘>new album (Amazon link) released today – ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ is the second album from Plan B – check out the single ‘She Said’ on Spotify.  Highly recommend this talented London artist.

What reasons do you have?

Reasons #8

ian_dury

Monday morning, and you are in the office early – 7am here, and just getting light outside, what possible reasons could there be for being cheerful?

  • The clocks may have gone forward, so the evenings are lighter – so getting in earlier means getting away earlier as the summer months get closer.
  • Maybe its your sons birthday tomorrow and his excitement is rubbing off on the whole family.
  • No-one else is in the office and you are already cranking the handle of your to-do list.
  • Maybe you spotted this – the best tabloid headline ever, or maybe this REALLY is.
  • Oh, and if you need a soundtrack – EMI have remastered and rereleased all of Duran Duran’s back catalogue. You can find their stuff over on Spotify – may I suggest ‘The Chauffeur’ for some Monday morning memories

Anyway, its Monday – why are YOU so cheerful?

Reasons #7

ian_dury

Ready for a new week? Here are some reasons to be cheerful…

  • You have a chance to discuss the Oscars round the watercooler should Avatar have won more? Was Hurt Locker any good? (Answers: Maybe, and Yes)
  • I got loads achieved last week – and this week looks great as well, I’m on a flight to Seattle this afternoon to hang out with my team.
  • The new Gorillaz album is out today – it is marvellous, full of great collaborations and amazing beats.
  • My actions for the week look achievable and interesting – this weeks pages are blank and inviting.

What has got you chipper today?

Reasons #6

ian_dury

Monday morning – I’m ready… are you? Reasons to be cheerful today…

notebookWhat has you feeling amazing on this Monday morning?

Reasons #5

ian_dury

Monday morning – the blank page of another awesome week stretches ahead, here are my reasons to be cheerful today…

What is keeping your chin up this morning?

« Previous Older Entries