I did it... I tried to say no. In fact, more than 'tried' I did say no. But the problem was I ended up feeling mightily guilty - like a really selfish old trout.
Set me off thinking though - there is a right time to say no, and a right time to say no and not be guilty that your friend / colleague is going to have to find another willing fool, sorry, participant.
So, I've decided to take another tactic - to say yes, but to
- find out what I'm saying 'yes' to, in full, before doing it
- explain how busy I am and that I can't do it straight away
- ask when the 'favour' needs doing by, and if I can't make it, say no
Oh yes, a plan - I like plans... let's see if I can stick to this one today. I'm suffering from a lovely cold, so it's going to be like wading through mud to just make the simplest of decisions today but we'll see.
Have a great day lovelies and speak soon
Eva x
Friday 28 September 2007
Thursday 27 September 2007
saying no...
Don't know about you Busy Girl, but I have a real issue saying "no". It's not just me, my more conscientious friends are the same - whenever someone asks us for a favour, we automatically say 'ok, yeah, I'll help you'.
I always seem to say yes to a seemingly simple task and then find out what I've really let myself in for when it's too late to back out. The favour usually becomes something I don't really have the time to do - like ferrying boxes backwards and forwards or waiting for hours for a delivery. I end up frantically rushing to get all my stuff done too - or it gets forgotten in the haste.
I'm going to make it my quest today to say 'no' to something that I'm asked for.
Can you imagine - the next time my boss asks me something I'll be like 'No!' - ok, maybe I'd better figure out my boundaries.
Why don't you try it too? Together we will become liberated Busy Girl (or sacked)...
Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide Manchester & Cheshire
I always seem to say yes to a seemingly simple task and then find out what I've really let myself in for when it's too late to back out. The favour usually becomes something I don't really have the time to do - like ferrying boxes backwards and forwards or waiting for hours for a delivery. I end up frantically rushing to get all my stuff done too - or it gets forgotten in the haste.
I'm going to make it my quest today to say 'no' to something that I'm asked for.
Can you imagine - the next time my boss asks me something I'll be like 'No!' - ok, maybe I'd better figure out my boundaries.
Why don't you try it too? Together we will become liberated Busy Girl (or sacked)...
Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide Manchester & Cheshire
Wednesday 26 September 2007
I can't get back into it...
It's so dark in the mornings! I have been practising my 'how to get up happy' tricks, and although it's getting somewhat easier, I still want to curl up into my duvet and hide.
I think it's because I can't get back into it - I've been away for a week and that's it - I'm totally out of touch with my motivation and 'keeness'. Maybe it's because things have gone a bit quiet. I chatted with a friend about this yesterday and she was feeling the same, just really bored and demotivated. So, what do I do? Well, my friends at the Busy Girls Guide have put together an article all about it, so that's a start - here's a snippet...
"Get out! - What did you love most about your holidays? The fresh air? The walks or the swimming? Take in some scenery & get walking now you're back... try to get out for lunch, even if it's to get a change of environment for 1/2 an hour" the rest of the article
Right - onwards and upwards - I've got too much to do today to be faffing about - need to get brain and act into gear! I'll see you later Busy Girls - have a lovely day!
Eva x
The Busy Girls Guide to Manchester & Cheshire
Tuesday 25 September 2007
The things you do for love...
Himself likes this and I like that - but the chance of him going shopping for MAC makeup is slim, so I end up doing what he likes.
That's what happened when I first tried rock climbing, hill walking and more recently spinning. Not that himself likes spinning, but he goes downhill mountain biking, so if I'm going to try that, I should at least get myself comfortable in the saddle.
Many of the things I've done for him have been done with an initial disinterest, but turned out to be good fun and, in some cases, something I'm actually quite good at.
Apart from spinning.
Last night pootled off to the gym with friend in tow, decided to get into gear before being dragged onto a mountain to hurtle down it on two wheels. Everything was going ok til I got my trouser leg caught in the peddle and nearly garroted my left leg off. Had to spend rest of the class with trousers pulled up above thighs, much to the amusement of skinny 'hilarious' man on the bike next to me.
Note to self - don't wear long trousers on a bike, no matter how white and blotchy legs are.
I'm off to sit on a cushion - my bottom hurts.
Eva xx
That's what happened when I first tried rock climbing, hill walking and more recently spinning. Not that himself likes spinning, but he goes downhill mountain biking, so if I'm going to try that, I should at least get myself comfortable in the saddle.
Many of the things I've done for him have been done with an initial disinterest, but turned out to be good fun and, in some cases, something I'm actually quite good at.
Apart from spinning.
Last night pootled off to the gym with friend in tow, decided to get into gear before being dragged onto a mountain to hurtle down it on two wheels. Everything was going ok til I got my trouser leg caught in the peddle and nearly garroted my left leg off. Had to spend rest of the class with trousers pulled up above thighs, much to the amusement of skinny 'hilarious' man on the bike next to me.
Note to self - don't wear long trousers on a bike, no matter how white and blotchy legs are.
I'm off to sit on a cushion - my bottom hurts.
Eva xx
Monday 24 September 2007
How to wake up happy
This morning I woke up miserable - my alarm is too loud, my bed is too comfortable and I hate Mondays.
But waking up happy is possible - I know from searching the depths of my distant memory, that I've done it before, at least once.
Waking up happy is all about preparation - you need to have a few key things ready for the next day... I had a chat with the Experts and came back with this list:
1. Get an alarm clock with a nice (not annoying) tone - even a SAD Alarm Clock is more gentle than your mobile phone's shrill alarm.
2. Have something to look forward to! If it's Monday and you're going to work, you're off to a bad start, so why not plan something fun for the evening; have a friend over for a girly night or go to the flicks, even get something nice in for breakfast... it will cheer you up when you remember.
3. Leave your dressing gown by the bed. One of the big reasons you won't want to get out is because it's too cold out there. If your dressing gown is within reach at least your first few steps won't be so unpleasant.
Hope this helps Busy Girl? I'm going to try it tonight, see how I get on. Oh, and the 3 things a day thing is really working for me - I've stopped trying to do 'everything' at once and seem (cautious pause) to be getting more effective.
Wonders never cease! Have fun Busy Girl, love Eva xx
Busy Girls Guide, Manchester & Cheshire
But waking up happy is possible - I know from searching the depths of my distant memory, that I've done it before, at least once.
Waking up happy is all about preparation - you need to have a few key things ready for the next day... I had a chat with the Experts and came back with this list:
1. Get an alarm clock with a nice (not annoying) tone - even a SAD Alarm Clock is more gentle than your mobile phone's shrill alarm.
2. Have something to look forward to! If it's Monday and you're going to work, you're off to a bad start, so why not plan something fun for the evening; have a friend over for a girly night or go to the flicks, even get something nice in for breakfast... it will cheer you up when you remember.
3. Leave your dressing gown by the bed. One of the big reasons you won't want to get out is because it's too cold out there. If your dressing gown is within reach at least your first few steps won't be so unpleasant.
Hope this helps Busy Girl? I'm going to try it tonight, see how I get on. Oh, and the 3 things a day thing is really working for me - I've stopped trying to do 'everything' at once and seem (cautious pause) to be getting more effective.
Wonders never cease! Have fun Busy Girl, love Eva xx
Busy Girls Guide, Manchester & Cheshire
Saturday 22 September 2007
PlayStation widow...
To be fair, I've done well to get away with it for this long. Boasting to my friends "oh yes, he's a star... he doesn't like football and he doesn't even have a Playstation - the perfect man, huh?".
I knew it would come back to bite me - today he went out to get a new magazine and came home proudly brandishing a PlayStation 3.
Yes, I know the graphics are cool, I'm aware the joystick (or whatever it is) is wireless and, yes darling, it HAS got better music than old computer games... but honestly, after 1/2hr the erractic screaming of racing cars buzzing around the mud-pit track is beginning to seriously grate.
Am nursing a hangover from too much champagne last night (nice, but painful now) and have had to take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen again for pounding head.
Am bored.
Am now officially a PlayStation Widow.
Hope your weekend is more peaceful than mine!
Love Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
I knew it would come back to bite me - today he went out to get a new magazine and came home proudly brandishing a PlayStation 3.
Yes, I know the graphics are cool, I'm aware the joystick (or whatever it is) is wireless and, yes darling, it HAS got better music than old computer games... but honestly, after 1/2hr the erractic screaming of racing cars buzzing around the mud-pit track is beginning to seriously grate.
Am nursing a hangover from too much champagne last night (nice, but painful now) and have had to take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen again for pounding head.
Am bored.
Am now officially a PlayStation Widow.
Hope your weekend is more peaceful than mine!
Love Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
Friday 21 September 2007
The cheque's in the post...
Morning Busy Girls
How annoying are cheques and paperwork? I'm so used to firing off an email or checking my bank balance online that I feel to send a cheque is just big hassle and bottom of the list of things to do.
You not only have to find your cheque book, write it, find the person's address, write a note to accompany it, find an envelope, buy some stamps, but then also remember to post the thing and not leave it hanging around in your bag for days getting dirty and crumpled.
There must be an easier way - maybe soon they'll get rid of cheques completely and then I can save a good hour or so faffing about trying to pay people their dues.
Rant over - have a great day! Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
How annoying are cheques and paperwork? I'm so used to firing off an email or checking my bank balance online that I feel to send a cheque is just big hassle and bottom of the list of things to do.
You not only have to find your cheque book, write it, find the person's address, write a note to accompany it, find an envelope, buy some stamps, but then also remember to post the thing and not leave it hanging around in your bag for days getting dirty and crumpled.
There must be an easier way - maybe soon they'll get rid of cheques completely and then I can save a good hour or so faffing about trying to pay people their dues.
Rant over - have a great day! Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
Thursday 20 September 2007
Are you effective or efficient?
Effectiveness is doing the things that get you closer to your goals. Efficiency is performing a given task in the most economical way.
Are you effective every day or efficient?
Take the example of a washing machine - if it's efficient, it will use less water, less detergent, finish washing in less time and generally be more economical to run. But we need the machine to be effective too; it has to wash the clothes well, otherwise, we'll have to put them back in for another cycle, which then reduces the efficiency too.
Apply the same thought process to work - are you the sort of person who checks their email 30 times a day, clicking the 'send/receive' button? Do you have an elaborate 'folder system' for your emails, to get them out of the way and into different piles to sort through later? If so, do you think this is efficient or effective?
Being effective will get you to where you need to be. It will get you home earlier in the long run, it'll make you feel satisfied at the end of the day, it'll get you results and it will make people notice you.
Have a think about it today, Busy Girl, maybe simply checking your mails 4 times a day and responding to the most important ones, delegating the appropriate and binning the ridiculous would make more sense?
Have a great one, lots of love, Eva x
Busy Girls Guide, Manchester & Cheshire
Are you effective every day or efficient?
Take the example of a washing machine - if it's efficient, it will use less water, less detergent, finish washing in less time and generally be more economical to run. But we need the machine to be effective too; it has to wash the clothes well, otherwise, we'll have to put them back in for another cycle, which then reduces the efficiency too.
Apply the same thought process to work - are you the sort of person who checks their email 30 times a day, clicking the 'send/receive' button? Do you have an elaborate 'folder system' for your emails, to get them out of the way and into different piles to sort through later? If so, do you think this is efficient or effective?
Being effective will get you to where you need to be. It will get you home earlier in the long run, it'll make you feel satisfied at the end of the day, it'll get you results and it will make people notice you.
Have a think about it today, Busy Girl, maybe simply checking your mails 4 times a day and responding to the most important ones, delegating the appropriate and binning the ridiculous would make more sense?
Have a great one, lots of love, Eva x
Busy Girls Guide, Manchester & Cheshire
Wednesday 19 September 2007
What's on your life cards?
Is it in the cards? Is everything that is going to happen to you this week, this month, this year already set out and waiting to happen? A tarot card reader or clairvoyant will tell you that yes, it's in the cards (or to us our everyday expression - it's on the cards). But if it is all set out for us, then why do we worry so much about the future - if we can control very little of it anyway?
Was I destined to prang the car on Tuesday or was it a cause & reaction situation? Have you ever watched the film sliding doors - where the main character's whole life goes in a different direction just because she missed her train to work one morning... makes you wonder how life would have been different, if you'd taken another path. Imagine if you'd not chosen your University, and gone to another one. Or, if you didn't go, imagine what life would have been like if you did. You'd probably have a different partner, live somewhere else in the country, have different friends, job, pets, ambitions?
We spend our days running to and fro, getting things done to secure our future - but maybe it's all secured for us already - in which case, what's it all for?
Crickey... it's 9am - that's deep enough for one day, Busy Girl - have fun whatever you are striving to do -let's hope it makes a difference to your day!
Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
Was I destined to prang the car on Tuesday or was it a cause & reaction situation? Have you ever watched the film sliding doors - where the main character's whole life goes in a different direction just because she missed her train to work one morning... makes you wonder how life would have been different, if you'd taken another path. Imagine if you'd not chosen your University, and gone to another one. Or, if you didn't go, imagine what life would have been like if you did. You'd probably have a different partner, live somewhere else in the country, have different friends, job, pets, ambitions?
We spend our days running to and fro, getting things done to secure our future - but maybe it's all secured for us already - in which case, what's it all for?
Crickey... it's 9am - that's deep enough for one day, Busy Girl - have fun whatever you are striving to do -let's hope it makes a difference to your day!
Eva xx
The Busy Girls Guide www.busygirlsguide.co.uk
Tuesday 18 September 2007
Nothing like a crash to come to your senses
So, how did you get on Busy Girl? Manage to prioritise just 3 things to do yesterday? Hard isn't it? I really struggled to get back into it yesterday - with being away on hols last week. I managed to get 2 of the 3 things done on my list but then on my way to lunch someone decided drive into the road without looking and ploughed into my car, ripping the back end off. I spent the rest of the day trying to change the tyre, sort out the insurance and get it booked into the nearest garage whilst shaking with that instinctive panic that envelops you when you have a crash.
Makes you think doesn't it. One minute you're there worrying about your to do list, the next life slaps you firmly in the face and makes you realise that actually there are more important things than being efficient - like being alive.
Don't mean to dramatise, but it really hit home (excuse the pun) yesterday - I realised if he'd hit me a milli-second sooner, I may have ended up mashed into the car, because he would have hit me at 30mph directly on the driver's door.
Today I'm going to get the car to the garage and then make sure I actually enjoy my day whilst getting things done without worrying - because let's face it, today could have been a different story.
See you later Busy Girls
love Eva xx
Monday 17 September 2007
Monday Blues
Got up this morning feeling like my brain had been removed and replaced with a brick. What is it with Mondays? The start of a new week should be a great thing, with the weekend behind us and the chance to start again, but no - what it really means is the start of another tough old grind.
I've been reading a lot recently about how we are the hardest working country in Europe. We've always got something to do - we're never short of a to-do list or 7! I Flicking through a book last week, I came across a new time management technique. It said that in order to maximise our day, we should try to do only 3 things that really matter. So, you this morning I'm going to battle the Monday blues and give it a go.
Apparently, I have to sit for 5 minutes and find 3 things that really need to be done today - only 3. It makes you prioritise and realise that actually, you're not that burdened after all... right 3 things... I'll let you know how I get on - why don't you give it a go too?
See you soon
Eva x
I've been reading a lot recently about how we are the hardest working country in Europe. We've always got something to do - we're never short of a to-do list or 7! I Flicking through a book last week, I came across a new time management technique. It said that in order to maximise our day, we should try to do only 3 things that really matter. So, you this morning I'm going to battle the Monday blues and give it a go.
Apparently, I have to sit for 5 minutes and find 3 things that really need to be done today - only 3. It makes you prioritise and realise that actually, you're not that burdened after all... right 3 things... I'll let you know how I get on - why don't you give it a go too?
See you soon
Eva x
Sunday 2 September 2007
Lemar really rocks
Sorry but I simply had to post this blog heading, as yesterday I went to see Lemar, who was playing at a private party at The Hilton in Manchester... and he was amazing. He really was fab, my friends and I enjoyed every single minute of it. It was one great way to start September.
It was just Lemar, his guitarist and about 100 people dancing in front of him... totally fabulous. I've taken some pics but left my camera in my friends car so don't have them yet. Argh! Give me the camera back quick!
We heard him do his warm up and he had a few off notes, but when it came to the actual performance, not a duff note in sight.
Lemar, if you remember back far enough, was in that odd reality programme Fame Academy - since then I've really loved Lemar's soulful tracks.
So enough gushing from me - photos to follow shortly (as soon as I get my camera back!).
Have a lovely Sunday
Eva x
It was just Lemar, his guitarist and about 100 people dancing in front of him... totally fabulous. I've taken some pics but left my camera in my friends car so don't have them yet. Argh! Give me the camera back quick!
We heard him do his warm up and he had a few off notes, but when it came to the actual performance, not a duff note in sight.
Lemar, if you remember back far enough, was in that odd reality programme Fame Academy - since then I've really loved Lemar's soulful tracks.
So enough gushing from me - photos to follow shortly (as soon as I get my camera back!).
Have a lovely Sunday
Eva x
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