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Controlling Treadmill of Life is Possible

The Plain Dealer --
By: Leslie Yerkes

When I speak to groups about change, the analogy that always makes the greatest impression is that of a treadmill.

Every day starts when the bell rings. You do your daily morning agenda, check your day's "to do" list, then take off to where you have to go until you cross the finish line. At home, you switch gears again, fall into bed exhausted, waiting for the bell to signal the start of another day, another session on the treadmill.

We live in an information and technology age. More information is generated in a single day than anyone can absorb in a lifetime. And there are more changes in technology than we can incorporate.

What once was a simple treadmill has become a computer-operated machine with speed control, incline controls, and an LCD display of where we are, how far we have to go, calories burned and other information. Even being on a treadmill is no longer a simple experience.

In life, technology seems to have taken care of the speed and incline settings on our treadmill. The demands of travel, work, and people around us all affect the speed of our treadmill. The degree of difficulty is determined by an incline that increases with each surprise of the day.

We soon discover we spend a lot of time and effort moving like crazy, but not getting anywhere. All we get is tired. Instead of falling into a life on a digital treadmill, what we really want is control - and maybe a way to slow down the pace.

The first thing is to look at the elements of our life and decide which ones we can control and which ones we can only influence. Upon honest reflection, it becomes apparent that we can control only ourselves; all the rest we can only hope to influence. After that, there are three ways in which we can change our treadmill-lives and regain control.

Work on reducing the speed. The speed of life is determined by the number of elements you include in your daily plan. To reduce those elements, assign or delegate as many as you can. Complete the important ones, and eliminate the rest by simply taking them off your list. The most important thing you can do is to learn to say no. If it's really important, someone will do it. It doesn't have to be you.

Work on reducing the incline. The incline of the treadmill of life is elevated by surprises, crises that burst through your door. Handle existing surprises, and plan to prevent future ones.

Work on getting off. The only true solution to the treadmill life is to get off. Most of us wait until we're forced off by illness, breakdown, injury, or the collapse of our lives. But there's no reason to wait.

There are two ways to get off successfully on your own. First, plan. Make sure you take your vacation time off. Plan a wild card day off. I have a friend whose wife works every third Saturday and gets Thursday off. My friend schedules those Thursdays off, too, and the two spend her day off together.

Second, be spontaneous. When you get an offer to do something unusual or travel somewhere, go. Take the time off and recharge.

If it seems that your life is like being on a treadmill, consider how to regain control: slow down, say no, and take plenty of time off. Fitness experts say time off between exercises is more beneficial than exercising every day. Dealing with the treadmill of life is no different.