Author: Philip Jones
Please try to imagine what life would be like if you were a busy, stressed individual.
This will not be easy when, in reality, yours is a truly wonderful life. Your daily routine is immensely satisfying and enjoyable. Your work schedule leaves you plenty of time for relaxing pursuits. You earn way more money than you know what to do with, so your personal finances are in great shape. Your home is a refuge of serene tranquility. You have no worries, so you always sleep well. But some of your friends appear to be inexplicably busy and stressed. You find it difficult to relate to their situation, as it is so foreign to your own experience.
Let’s Pretend
But let’s pretend you are yourself a really busy person. Let’s fill your imaginary calendar with demanding commitments. You would need nine or ten days in a week to handle everything that is expected of you. But so far, each week comes equipped with a scant supply of only seven days.
Do you remember those widespread predictions that by now we would all be working no more than a 30-hour week? This benefit would result from the liberating impact of technology. We would have trouble deciding how to utilize all our leisure time. I am delighted to hear this is the way events have unfolded for you! But what if, even in your case, these prognostications had turned out to be mistaken? What if you were now busier than ever?
And that’s not all. Let’s pretend that, on top of your fictitious demanding schedule, there are other sources of stress. Financial pressures. Personal relationships that are difficult to handle. Upsetting developments, making you angry. Unpleasant uncertainties, creating anxiety. Pretend your life had not turned out the way you had hoped, and you feel deprived.
If your stressful life were even close to what we have described, congratulations would be in order. You would qualify as a prospective Heart Attackee. Quite an achievement. For me, this is familiar territory. I am myself a highly qualified Certified Heart Attackee.
Now let’s stretch your imagination even further. Let’s suppose you are actually destined to have a myocardial infarction, the technical term inscribed on my ever-present Medic Alert bracelet.
At this stage in your life, a heart attack would be a nuisance, an aggravating distraction, an inconvenient interruption. It is just possible you might find even stronger language to describe the impact on your life. But let’s pretend you are determined to have this new experience, how are you going to plan this event?
You should take a systematic, business-like approach to the project. Pay attention first to the issue of timing. This requires careful planning.
Scheduling the Fictional Event
Take into account such factors as time of day, the season, workplace demands, family activities, and vacation plans. I found early afternoon on a warm summer day to be ideal, shortly after my return from an overseas vacation, and before my subsequent commitments became too demanding.
From a longer-term perspective, decide how old you would want to be. My guess is that any time this year would not be convenient. A delay would be better. Correct? So which upcoming year will you select?
Would next year be OK? . . . No?
How about the year after next? . . . Not really?
Would a later decade be preferable? I waited until after my 60th birthday. Would any time after your 60th be OK? . . . No?
Any time after your 80th? . . .
Your 105th? . . . Are we getting closer?
Well here’s the deal: the longer you want to delay the event, the more diligent your preparation will need to be. And if your preparation should turn out to be noticeably inadequate, the higher the odds that your supposedly busy schedule could be seriously disrupted!
(to be continued)
© Copyright, Philip Jones, 2010. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Philip Jones is a motivational speaker based in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
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