Don’t Forget To Stretch

Two to three times a week, I play in a Faculty/Staff basketball league over lunch.  Its a great way to work out, stay in shape, and network with members of our university community.  Over the last several months, I noticed that I was sore more often and if I got banged up, it took me longer to recover.  As someone in their mid-30s, I knew these days would come eventually, but coming to grips with it has taken me a while.  Over the holiday’s, a good friend from graduate school told me that he stretches every night before going to bed.  He told me that the health benefit certainly was worth the time he invested.  As an active runner, he has also noticed a decline in this recovery time and stretching had helped.

As I thought more about this, this holds true in my own professional and personal development. In 2011, I plan on “stretching” my mind more by doing the following five things:

1.  Learning Through Lurking
Some of you may have noticed that I have stepped back a bit from my visual participation on Twitter. This has been an intentional act to listen, watch, and read all the amazing things you are all doing. From all the new blogs that have recently surfaced to all the fantastic social media ideas that are being implemented right now, lurking has translated into meaningful learning for me.  This also has translated into more “unplugging” times to find a more healthy balance.

For some of you, this may manifest itself into the opposite (moving from being a lurker to an active contributor), but in either case, try the opposite of what you have been doing on Twitter for a more blended approach to our informational network.

2.  Saying YES More Than NO
Having two young children have conditioned me, to an extent, of having a “say no” reflex that has transitioned into my office work. This year, before simply saying “no”, I will try to find a way to say yes.  Certainly, there will be times where this won’t work due to policies, procedures, laws, etc., but I had found myself recently saying “no” because I was either overwhelmed, visions of bad past experiences, fear of the unknown, or not really listen to what the person was asking.

This also holds true the other way.  Just because someone says no the first time, does not necessarily mean that you should give up. Do your homework and try to find other creative ways to pitch your idea (with statistics, learning outcomes, fun uses of media, etc.) and try again. I have often seen creative and timely persistence rewarded. Don’t give up.

3. Do Something Outside of Your Discipline
This semester, I am asking each of my staff members to do this along with me. With all the reading/educational sessions/webinars, etc. that I do, the most valuable learning I got in the last year was reading books in the business sector on marketing and public relations and how much that information was transferable.  I plan on taking a Yoga Class (building upon this whole “stretching” thing) which should be hilarious

Generally, if it feels uncomfortable, give it try. Ever hear of “growing pains?”

4.  Turn OFF the Radio/MP3 Player In Your Car
In my final post of 2010, I shared the revelation of how many fantastic ideas came to my head when I drove in a silent car.  I plan on doing this regularly, as well as taking different ways home to keep my mind sharp instead of on “auto-pilot”.  How often do you get have complete “silent” time to let your mind do it’s thing?  It really is a cool exercise.

5.  Stop Waiting For the “Perfect Time”
I am not sure how many of you find yourself saying this, but I have many times. Recently, this has come up with starting my Doctoral degree.  I know I want to do it, but I have concocted all sorts of excuses why not to do it (e.g. Waiting for both my girls to be in school or too busy at work, or not enough money, etc.)  The money piece is legitimate, but realistically, will there ever be a “perfect time?”  Whatever it is for you, let’s stop waiting and start doing.  The hardest part of any major decision is taking the first step.  This year may be it.

Oh, and speaking of “perfect”, stop trying to be. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, its the only way we really grow.

My word of the year is “stretch” and even though 2011 just started, I hope you find yourself doing more stretching, both physically and mentally. It can only help you better achieve the goals you have set out for yourself!

How do you stretch? What are the things that help you “warm up”, “play/perform”, and then “cool down?”