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Time Management

THREE WAYS TO BEAT THE MONDAY BLUES

April 13, 2022 by AChuckAllen

April 18, 2022

“Monday, Monday, so good to me.” The Mamas and the Papas launched that song in 1966. There have been a few changes in the world since ‘66.

But Monday hasn’t changed much. It is still the day that most of us never look forward to.

Monday has a special significance in our culture as the beginning of the week, which influences our mood and our physical, emotional, and spiritual health outcomes

The 7-day week and the meaning we associate with the days of the week is a social construct, and not based on biological or planetary cycles. But a host of negative outcomes, such as heart attacks and strokes, happen more frequently on Mondays as people transition back to the structured routine of the week.

Something about that doesn’t seem right. Furthermore, we shouldn’t give in to that. If it really is a social construct, and we can choose to make Monday better, why not do that?

A 2021 nationwide survey conducted by the Data Decisions Group tracked awareness and behavior related to Mondays and healthy behaviors. While 11% of people report that Monday is “a day to dread”, many people see Monday positively. They view it as an opportunity for a “fresh start” (40%) and a day to “get my act together” (18%).

83% of responders to the survey agreed that starting the week off healthy would help maintain a focus on health for the rest of the week.

Over the past few months, I’ve been radically focused on becoming a healthier husband, dad, grandad and pastor. I’ve learned the following three ways to kickoff my workweek. Please keep in mind that I’m a pastor. As a result, Monday morning could possibly be a bummer of a let down. But I’ve learned to make Monday one of my favorite days of the week.

1. PLAN YOUR WEEK ON SUNDAY EVENING.

You may not want to, but taking ten minutes to review your calendar, make appropriate adjustments, and make a few notes of a few things you need to add and delete to your schedule is one of the most impactful things you can invest ten-minutes in, always.

Make a very short list of four things you MUST accomplish this week. Write them down! Then prioritize them.

Keep that in front of you.

2. Set limits on the amount of time that you will spend that week on social media, television and enthralled with your smart devices.

Simple awareness of the time you spend on these often worthless efforts is half of your personal productivity and peace perspective.

Earl Sweatshirt once said, “Everyone’s like sheep on social media; like, one person starts making noise, and everyone’s like, ‘Hey, yeah!’ and then you got a whole bunch of people making noise at you.”

And, whether you like it or not, the man trying to buy Twitter said, “I think there should be regulations on social media to the degree that it negatively affects the public good.” -Elon Musk

Don’t let the addictive dopamine hit of a like, follow or friend determine your day, week, or attitude.

3. Determine to Rise Ten-Minutes Early Each Weekday.

Rising just 10-minutes early allows you room to do three things – yes I know I sound like a broken record – but this has had such a radical impact on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. First, write down three things that you are grateful for. Don’t get all spiritual or intellectual on me. Keep it simple, but write it down. Second, read one chapter of the Bible-book of Proverbs. There’s 31 chapters. How ‘bout that? Third, write down 4-5 words that describe the person that you want to be or become this week. Again, keep it clear. Keep it simple. Keep it real.

As the Mamas and the Papas once sang, “Monday, Monday, so good to me. Every other day, every other day. Every other day, every other day of the week is fine, yeah.But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes. But whenever Monday comes, you can find me cryin’ all of the time”

I think I will choose a better Monday. How about you?

Go in Peace, Chuck

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Filed Under: DAILY PRODUCTIVITY PLAN, Discipleship, Emotional Health, Leadership, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, peace, prayer, Uncategorized Tagged With: anxiety, Emotional Health, Goals, Leadership, Mental Health, Peace, Personal Development, Productivity, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Health, Time Management, work smart

Happy People Don’t Do These 4 Things

October 18, 2021 by AChuckAllen

AChuckAllen

It seems odd to suggest that in this world, you can accelerate happiness in your life. But you actually can create a sense of peace and genuine happiness within your soul if you so desire. If that’s the case, then why are so many people unhappy?

In a recent article from Discovery Magazine, I read the following; “The richest countries are not happiest, the healthiest countries are not always the happiest. The happiest countries are the ones who do have the highest levels of a whole range of things,” says John Helliwell, an editor of The World Happiness Report and professor emeritus of the Vancouver School of Economics. “They include, especially, a willingness to trust each other to work for each other and to come together in times of difficulty.”

From that and our everyday life experiences, we know this to be true. I’ve heard from countless people that “money can’t buy happiness.” Or my favorite, “stuff can only make you temporarily happy.”

I’ve written plenty of things you can do to increase your happiness, but here are four things that genuinely happy people DON’T DO.

  1. Genuinely Happy People Don’t Compare Themselves to Others. Eckhart Tolle once said, “Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love — you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” Staying in comparison mode will rob you of the lovely soul that the Divine created to be you. God made no mistake when you were created. Every molecule that helps make you the incredible, fantastic you are unique, and wonderful has a purpose that only you can deliver into this world. To compare your awesomeness is a discredit to both you and God. You know what you’re worth, right? Happy folks do because they don’t seek validation outside of themselves. Happy people understand that it comes from a sense of self-awareness — in their way.
  2. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Selfish, They Serve Others. Every study on the planet proves this to be true. Give a bit of your time, your skill, your kindness, and yourself, and watch happiness wash into your soul. A Chinese saying goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Our passion should be the foundation for our serving others. It is not how much we give away but how much love we put into giving it. It should not be simply a matter of choosing the right thing, but also the importance of deciding what is suitable for us. God said that He loves a cheerful giver. Like all of life…it’s a matter of our hearts.
  3. Genuinely Happy People Aren’t Rigid. Every time I meet a happy person, I seem to discover this truth – they are naturally flexible. If I could add one piece of scripture to the New Testament, I’d add another Beatitude to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. When we remain flexible, we remain less stressed and less anxious. Hence, we are happier. Staying fixed in our certainty can steal the happiness from our soul. Discover the joy and margin found in your flexibility. My addition? Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
  4. Genuinely Happy People Guard Their Yes and No. Happiness is often connected to having a margin in our calendar and schedule. When we say yes to everyone and everything, we might be fueling an addiction to please people. I’ve discovered that this addiction is as powerful as alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine. Without guarding our yes and no answers, we give away our margin, grow frustrated with others, and punish both ourselves and those we love. If you want to choose happiness, guard your yes, and no’s.

Don’t settle for temporal happiness when you were created for meaningful, purposeful, and eternal happiness. Get grounded in your faith, your family, and your community. Then stop comparing yourself to anybody, give yourself away, get flexible, and guard your yes and no.

Peace, Chuck

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Filed Under: AChuck's Top 10, Discipleship, Do Good, Emotional Health, Leadership, Life and Happiness, Mental Health, peace, Uncategorized Tagged With: calendar, Emotional Health, faith, Hope, Kindness, Mental Health, Peace, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Health, Time Management

Thanksgiving Meditation

November 23, 2017 by AChuckAllen

Weekday Meditation Day 4 – Thanksgiving Meditation

While it may be the most wonderful time of the year, it is also the most anxiety riddled season to boot. I want to encourage you, with great urgency, to take eight minutes and prioritize your life, starting with quietude, gratitude, Scripture, and prayer.

I’ve had some huge feedback on this guided meditation and in your 8-10 minute commitment, I promise you that you’ll be ready for anything thrown your way…including the hectic holiday season.

I didn’t grow up hearing the word meditation. Growing up in the home of a hardcore fundamentalist, the term meditation was for those hippies out west on Haight & Ashbury. As a result, I needed someone to model what meditation was, what it was focused on and how do you do this foreign concept? Each Weekday Guided Meditation will focus your head, heart, and hands on the things that matter most.

Thanksfor joining me for this 5 Day Meditation. I’ll be back with my BLOG Posts on Monday.

Here is Today’ WEEKDAY MEDITATION  

–AChuck

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Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weekday Meditation Tagged With: Meditation, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Time Management

The Day after the Day After The Day

December 27, 2016 by AChuckAllen



There is something rather pedestrian about December 27. The almost here of the 24th, the majesty and wonder of the 25th, the excitement and returns of the lingering big day on the 26th…and then the 27th. It seems so blah.

But the day after the day after the day is pure awesomeness! But why you ask? Here’s my list of reasons for today being awesome:

  1. You did it! Celebrate the fact that you made it. You made it through the rush and expectations and the gift exchanges, and on and on. You made it!
  2. Today is a day to get your home or office ready for the new year! Committing two blocks of time to put your work or living space in order can radically improve your attitude and your productivity. I’ve committed two 70 minutes blocks of time to my home office and our main living space.
  3. If you’re a football fan, like I am you know that this week is “The Most Wonderful Week of the Year!” At least according to ESPN and the Bowl Week!
  4. If you’re not a football fan, how great will it be to have about 4 hours each day this week to go do what you’ve been wanting to do. ENJOY!
  5. And my favorite – Research and determine what tool you will use for capturing your goals, dreams, tasks, and calendars for the new year. I am constantly looking for a better system to improve my time and goal management and my task or calendar. I know many of you do not share those affinities, so you can use sticky notes or a legal pad. They all work with the same operating system – You!

It’s been a great Christmas season. Let’s commit to that “good will toward all people” thing we heard 400 times over the past month.

Stay Cool,
Chuck

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas, Goals, New Year, Productivity, Time Management

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