The Worry Buster

(by Graham McGregor, from his booklet How To Make 2014 The Best Year Ever)

An interesting survey was done a few years ago on what the average person worries about. The survey found that forty percent of what people worry about never happens. And thirty percent of what people worry about had already happened so you couldn’t do anything about it. Twelve percent of what the average person worries about is what others say about you, which most of the time is untrue. Finally, according to this survey, ten percent of worry deals with your health and worrying will only make that worse!

That leaves about eight percent of the things that are considered to be real problems… and worry will not do any good with these either!

In other words, we worry about a lot of things that are not going to happen or have already happened. In the wonderful book “How to stop worrying and start living” by Dale Carnegie there is an excellent technique to handle worry.

It’s called the ‘Worry Buster’ and it has four simple steps:

1. Define in writing exactly what you are worried about. In medicine there is a saying that accurate diagnosis is 50% of the cure. So write down exactly what you are worried about. For example “I am worried about my job.” Or “I am worried about a business client I have who is slow paying their invoice.”
2. Define in writing the Worst Possible Outcome (W.P.O.) of this worry. If you have concerns about your job, the worst possible outcome is that you lose this job. If you have concerns about a business client being slow to pay their invoice the worst possible outcome is that you never get paid.
3. Decide mentally to accept the worst possible outcome should it occur. This will mentally relieve a lot of stress. Ask yourself will this outcome kill me? Will losing your job kill you? Will not getting paid kill you? In most cases the answer is no. (Asking this simple question allows you to put your worry in perspective.)
4. Take action immediately to make sure the worst possible outcome doesn’t occur. Action is the antidote for worry. If you are worried about your job, talk to someone in your organisation who can give you more accurate information about your concerns.

If you are worried about a client not paying you, perhaps you could make time to go and talk with them face to face and voice your concerns. Maybe you could offer them an installment plan to pay their invoice if they are in financial difficulty.

Another useful strategy to eliminate worry is the ten year question. This is a great question to ask whenever you experience a major setback of any sort. “Ten years from now will this really matter?” This puts everything in perspective fast! If I were to ask you what you were worried and concerned about on this day 12 months ago most people wouldn’t have a clue. This goes to show that much of what we think is terrible today is usually not that important even a year later. Ten years is even longer.

Use the Worry Buster technique on any worry you have right now. It’s an excellent tool to eliminate worry quickly. And the more worries you eliminate the happier you will feel.

Learning Styles and Stress Management

Think “childhood” and words such as “carefree”, “long summer days”, “doing nothing” or “fun” will instantly spring to mind. However, nothing can be further from the truth for the current generation of school-goers. In certain parts of the world, even preschoolers feel the pressure to achieve, and thus to secure a place in a reputable private education institution.

Some schools cite education and achievement as their top values. Others prefer to concentrate on learning through fun, treating every child as an individual with a unique learning style, and offering an all-rounded learning option that includes as much dancing as it does arithmetic.

The world out there is tough and competitive. Do you shelter your children and let them enjoy life as long as they can, or do you start grooming them for the rat race in kindergarten? That’s the choice that every parent has to make individually.

Meanwhile, if you think that your child is feeling stressed, their own learning style can give you a clue as to how to help them. Highly analytic children will want to retreat and solve the problem by themselves, while highly holistic children will want to discuss the issue with you. To find out how to deal with your child’s stress, please analyse their learning style.

Some ideas that might also appeal to your child include:

1. Listening to music with a beat that is slower than their heart rate.
2. Taking a walk together - a forest or a beach will particularly well.
3. Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, mandarin or rose have a calming effect - you can burn them in the room if you have a burner or dab them directly onto the wrist.
4. A comforting healthy snack, like low-fat low-sugar apple pie or cocoa.
5. Distraction: ask your child what the best thing was that she saw or did today.

Just as prevention is better than cure in the area of physical health, so it is with stress. If your child does not thrive on achievement, it’s best not to push them. To check, do their Learning Style Analysis.

The Ultimate Productivity Booster

The single most efficient way to increase your productivity is to be happy at work. No system, tool or methodology in the world can beat the productivity boost you get from really, really enjoying your work. (Alexander Kjerulf)

So how do you achieve that? How do you start liking your workplace so much, it actually makes you happy to go to work every day?

A lot has to do with the work conditions and the environment at the office. Yes, a good boss and friendly colleagues go a long way to achieve that. But there is also something more basic, more elemental at play: the preferences of your own working style.

Even something as innocuous as the office lights may contribute to your levels of happiness. If you need a darker room in order to concentrate, a brightly lit office (especially one fitted with fluorescent lights) is going to contribute directly to your feeling tense. If, on the other hand, you need bright light and sunshine, a dark office or artificial lights will depress you or slow you down do that your productivity is affected.

Another element that can contribute to the amount of stress you feel when trying to work is the time of day. If you’re an evening person, for example, it’s physically stressful on your body and brain to function early in the morning. If you’re not a night owl, it will be stressful and exhausting for you to try and catch up on work when everyone else is asleep. Determine when your best “working time” is (early morning, late morning, after lunch, after supper) and try to do the bulk of your work then, particularly the complex and difficult bits. You'll emerge a lot happier and more productive.

What's your working style? 

Prevent Teacher Shortage with Learning Styles

In most parts of the world, including New Zealand, figures show that the birth rate is increasing. This means that in 5 years' time - give or take - we will need more teachers to accommodate the new school entrants. Combined with the aging teacher population, statisticians predict a teacher shortage for as early as 2016.

The trouble is, teaching is often an under-appreciated profession. Apart from Finland, where teachers enjoy the status equivalent to that of USA medical doctors, many developed countries don't recognise the importance of having excellent teachers. No wonder, then, that many university graduates choose career paths other than teaching.

We at Creative Learning would like to help. We have tools to make teachers' jobs easier and as stress-free as teaching can get. Our new improved group profiles let the teacher know at a glance how to plan their lessons and where the hot spots of challenge may lie. Best of all, the group profiles are free: you can get as many as you like when you buy a school package that analyses the students' learning styles.

Working Styles and Multitasking

Multitasking means working on several projects concurrently. Today’s technology enables us to stretch our attention over several simultaneous activities, like reading deleting spam in your email inbox while speaking on the phone to a client.

The latest scientific research indicates that multitasking - the very quality most employers seek - can lead to stress and burnout, which in turn leads to loss of productivity.

According to Dr. Etienne Koechlin of France's National Institute of Health and Medical Research: "The human prefrontal function seems to be built to control two tasks simultaneously. It means in everyday behaviour we can readily switch between two tasks but not between three (or more)."

Some people thrive on doing little bits here and little bits there, others need to see a task to its end before moving on to something new. It all depends on your own unique Working Style. 

Are you the type of person who prefers to work sequentially or simultaneously? Find out. 

Stress and Learning Styles

The amount of stress in your daily life, whether you are 5, 15 or 55, will depend - among other factors - on your unique learning style.


Take something as simple as the light in your house or office. Did you know that some people feel lethargic in dimly lit rooms, while others get stressed in a room in which the light bulbs are very bright? Fluorescent lights in particular can make you feel extremely agitated because of their constant flickering that your eye doesn’t notice but your brain still registers.

Noise levels can be a powerful stress-fuel too. If your working style calls for a silent environment in which to work, a modern open-plan office with its constant buzz of activity is going to make you tense and irritable.


Are you someone who loves fixed routines? Then any change at work (like moving office, a new boss, a new software package) will cause you stress. Don’t let people make light of your anxiety by saying “It’s just a little computer program, why are you so upset?” If you like routine, you will be upset by any departure from the known and the trusted. It’s in your biological makeup and you can’t change it.


Do you do mornings well? If not, having to attend a meeting at 8.30am is likely to make you feel grumpy and strained.


What are the factors affecting your stress levels? Find out.

Anger Management and Learning Styles

Anger and Irritability

Are you prone to numerous outbursts of anger or frequent bouts of irritability? Chances are, you are experiencing a working style mismatch.

Everybody has a unique Working Style a way in which you concentrate, make decisions and solve problems. If you are forced to work in a different way, one that is not inherently you, you will usually experience stress and frustration, which may result in your losing your cool in front of your boss or your loved ones.

The mismatches can be anywhere:

• multitasking when you're a type of person who needs to concentrate on a single thread (In today’s electronic world, it’s not unusual to read emails while talking on the phone; and it’s virtually expected of you to handle several projects at the same time.)

• details versus the big picture
• communication style
• type of lighting in the room
• time of day
• see more here.

Are you feeling stressed?

If you find it hard to concentrate at work or experience feelings of stress when entering your office, it could be that at least one of your biological needs is not satisfied. Ask yourself:

· Do I need to sit while working, or would I prefer to move about?

· Would sipping a glass of water or eating an apple while reading email help my concentration?

· Could I work more effectively earlier in the day or later at night?

· Do I need silence or background music when concentrating?

· Should my office light be bright or dim?

· Should my office be cool or warm?

· Does my desk feel right or would I rather work on the floor?

· Do I like working on my own, or do I miss being part of a team?

To answer these questions, do a Working Style Analysis (WSA) today.

Say Goodbye to Office Stress, too!

Last week, we talked about using Working Styles at home, when dealing with your children (click here to read the full post). Today, we’ll use Working Styles in a more conventional way, namely, to decrease your stress levels in the office.

Your Working Style is the way in which you approach complex projects and cope with problematic tasks. Do you dive into the details straight away, or do you search for an overview first? Do deadlines stress you or energise you? Do you get excited or irritated by a promise of a performance bonus? Do you work more optimally in a group or by yourself? Do you enjoy working under a mentor or a supervisor? When people are late for a meeting, do you use the extra time to focus your mind or do you get so impatient that you can actually feel your blood pressure rising?

It’s not a joking matter. If you force yourself to work in circumstances that are incompatible with your Working Style, you can do your health a serious amount of damage. Stress is the silent killer of the 21^st century - don’t let it get to you. Complete your Working Style Analysis today for a full report of factors that may contribute to your tension on the job.

And remember, the elements we discussed last week, namely:

· the amount of light in your office,

· tidiness or chaos (either can set your teeth on edge, depending on your unique Working Style),

· variety or habit (again, some people get upset by change, others don’t settle well into a routine),

· room temperature,

· time of day,

may also affect how stressed you feel at work. Check your Working Style Analysis report.

Say Goodbye to Stress with Working Styles

Step 1: Recognise Stress

(that’s nothing to do with Working Styles!)

· Your little girl spills juice on the carpet.

· Your son is having a screaming fit.

· Your toddler is carrying her latest painted masterpiece towards you. She drops it face down onto the carpet….

· Your teenager has died her hair purple.

Step 2: Discover Why You Are REALLY Stressed. No, REALLY!

Take something as simple as the light in your house. Did you know that some people feel better in darker rooms that have softer lighting, while others need bright light to function? If you like bright light, you may feel lethargic in dimly lit rooms; while if you prefer soft light, you may be stressed in a room in which the light bulbs are very bright. Fluorescent lights in particular (present in many kitchens, garages and laundries) can make you feel extremely agitated because of their constant flickering that your eye doesn’t notice but your brain still registers.

You can also feel stressed because of an untidy environment, too much change or too much routine, because of the weather, because of the time of day.

To find out, do our Working Style Analysis.

Step 3: Banish Stress

1. Think about your daily schedule and about your house. What can you change to achieve a better environment in which to be a parent? Hint: read the report you get with your personal and unique Working Style Analysis.

2. Not sure what else is adding to your stress? Then email Prashnig Style Solutions on info@clc.co.nz with a subject line “Parental Stress Competition” for your chance to win a personal analysis.

Parenting and Learning Styles

Parenting and Learning Styles

What is a Learning Style / Working Style? It’s the unique set of preferences and non-preferences that determines the way in which you concentrate and work at your very best.

1. The Busy Parent

The busy parent has:

· a job away from home,

· children in after-school care

· and dinner to make.

Objective-driven and focussed, the busy parent wears many hats and is a great organiser.

If that’s you, chances are that your Working Style is analytic (click here to see what that means). But how well do you react to change in your life? Does your children’s impulsive behaviour cause you stress? Would you be able to cope without a strict schedule? Discover your own Working Style and find out how best to manage your stress levels. Here’s how to do it.

2. The Cotton-Wool Parent

· Provides warmth and soft landings and padding from the big bad world...

· ... too much at times.

Today’s world looks more dangerous than the one we grew up in. The cars are faster, the competition fiercer and stranger-danger has never had it easier now that we’re all online. Is your child likely to enjoy socialising online more than in real life? What does their Learning Style indicate? Find out.

3. The Stressed Parent

No need to say more. We’ve all been there.

Stress is an integral part of parenting. However, if your blood pressure rises the minute you walk into the house, it’s probably because your Working Style doesn’t allow you to function at your best:

• in a noisy environment, and/or
• in a brightly lit room, and/or
• in the late afternoon, and/or
• without a formal structure, and/or
• given any one of the 40+ elements.

Discover what your Working Style strengths are so that you can enjoy your family.

The Secret of Stress-Free Teaching with Learning Styles

Attention All Teachers

Everybody has a unique way of learning new and difficult information. To have a good day at school, all you need to do is satisfy the learning style needs in your class....

 

Easier Said Than Done?

If you look at Learning Styles, you will see 48 elements that need to be taken into account when teaching new and difficult concepts.

• Some students will need less light in the room.
• Some will need to discuss the new topic among themselves.
• Others will not function well in the morning hours.

How can you possibly please them all?

 

The Secret

A student whose learning style is not matched, is a student who won’t learn. The secret of Stress-Free Teaching with Learning Styles lies in clever classroom management that helps you match your lesson plan to suit everybody’s needs. Our free group profile tool allows you to see an instant overview of your students’ strengths and learning needs, while our LSA Manual offers generic ideas on how to teach your specific group of students.

 

A Bonus Tip

If a group within your class is highly tactile and needs Learning Style Tools, don’t panic. You need not make the tools yourself. Your tactile students will be delighted to make their own flip-chutes and Question-Answer cards (thus learning the material while they’re making the tool).

 

Now that’s what I call magic.

 

Learning Styles, Working Styles and Stress

Stress is such an everyday part of our lives, we often fail to recognise it. For example, did you know that the following are classified as stressors (elements that can lead to stress)?

· Bright light or uncomfortable air temperature.
· Project deadlines.
· Lack of control over environmental conditions.
· Social circumstances, such as working in a team when you are a loner or being alone when you crave company.
· Responsibility for your future or for the wellbeing of others.

Our products, Learning Styles Analysis (LSA) and Working Style Analysis (WSA), recognise the significance of these elements. In the evaluation report of your own unique working or learning styles, you will find references to light, temperature, deadlines, environment, responsibility, and much more.

To find out your own style and help you identify the stressors in your life,
have a look at this free online demo of LSA or WSA.

Wikipedia defines stress as: “the condition that results when person-environment transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy, whether real or not, between the demands of a situation and the resources of the person's biological, psychological or social systems”.

In other words, if the demands of your learning style or working style are continually not met, you will experience stress.

Your learning style dictates the way in which you understand and remember new concepts. Your working style is the optimal way for you to concentrate at work. Both determine the way in which you deal with a stressful situation.

Get your LSA or WSA today!

Fact: Stress is the body's reaction to a change.
Fact: Today’s fast-paced world provides us with an oxymoron: constant change.
Fact: Successful people don’t need stress to help them achieve their goals.
Fact: Long-term stress can be detrimental to your health.

Learning Styles / Working Styles and The Communication Gap

WHY
Whether you are a system architect, a business analyst or a manager, part of your job description is communication with other team members. And, of course, the way you communicate will reflect your inherent Learning or Working Style.
If, for example, you are an auditory person, chances are, you’ll be reaching for a phone in order to communicate. But if you are a visual or tactile thinker, your first instinct will be to compose an email.

If you tend to think sequentially, you will start your communiqué at the beginning and include many pertinent details. If your approach is holistic, however, you will most likely start at the end with the goal or the objective, follow it with an overview or summary and not go into any details.

So far, so good. You are communicating in the way that is optimal for you, thus allowing you to express yourself best. The problem, however, comes when your phone call or email is received at the other end... because your team member’s Working Style (and thus their communication style) may not be compatible with yours.

WHAT
All in all, there are close to 50 elements that make up your personal working style, and about half of them have a direct bearing on the way in which you communicate with others. We’ve already discussed the visual-auditory and the sequential-holistic disparities. Others include:
· Time of day (some people tend to think better first thing in the morning, others do not).
· Setting (formal or informal - they both mean different things to different people and can make them feel uneasy).
· Mobility (some people think better when literally on their feet).
· Light (the lighting in the room should vary according to the needs of the individuals. It really is a myth that brighter light is better. People who prefer dimmer lighting find bright fluorescent light stressful and bothersome.)
· Background noise (to some people, a silent environment is the only way to work, but others may feel energised by the friendly hum of a busy office or by quiet music.)
· Speed (is the person you’re speaking to somebody who likes to make quick decisions, or do they need time to reflect on what you’d said).
· Content (is humour going to be appreciated? Should you use a real-life example or an anecdote? Is a list a good idea? Bullet points? Graphs and pictures? Are you better off with a set of slides or one really good physical model of what you’re trying to convey?)

One Working Style is not better than another and that there is no optimal communication style. It’s not true that those who communicate in a sequential fashion communicate better than those who prefer the holistic way, for example. What’s true is that those who prefer communicating in a sequential fashion will communicate better in a sequential fashion than in a holistic one, and will respond better to somebody who can speak their sequential language.

To find out more about your working style, please click here.

HOW
So how does one turn Working Styles into a business outcome?
After responding to a series of statements about yourself, you will receive a report that identifies your particular strengths, flexibilities and non-preferences. This will help you recognise and control the elements that can enhance your productivity and fulfilment at work.
Some elements you’ll be able to change yourself (keep your desk tidy, get a desk lamp, invest in ear plugs), others will need your manager’s approval (scheduling of important meetings to a time that’s productive for most of the team, taking work home to think it over in the evening).
The most important advantage, however, will come from your self-awareness. If you realise that you prefer to communicate in points, and you’re trying to gather information that’s new to you, number your questions when you email them to your colleagues, and ask them to respond in point form.
Of course, if a colleague is seeking information from you, the polite (and smart) thing to do is to respond to him in the style that he or she prefers, be it email, face to face, bullet points or overviews.