Time Confetti

Greetings all! 

I recently came across the term “Time Confetti” – and I thought how cute and envisioned something pink and sparkly! Wrong! 

Karen Kwong, an executive and leadership coach, aptly describes time confetti as “tiny chunks of time here and there, in the form of minutes and seconds, lost to non-productive multi-tasking,” all in pursuit of feeling more productive. My readers know how I feel about multi-tasking: “I was not created a Swiss Army knife to multitask like this!” 

Here is some food for thought: data shows that an average desk worker changes desktop applications every six minutes. What meaningful tasks can you really accomplish in six minutes?

The term 'time confetti' was actually coined by author Brigid Shulte to describe using free time to do little bits of seemingly inconsequential tasks. 

In her book “Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time,” Brigid writes, "As work weeks get longer and leisure time shrinks, people are becoming sicker, more distracted, absent, unproductive, and less innovative.” 

How true – and sad! - about shrinking leisure time! You might feel you are getting more done, then you use those time pockets to find and do more work, and voila - interruptions now become your new normal. 

For example, if you have a free hour, would you relax guilt-free with a cup of tea and a good book or would you feel the need to do something productive and clear some of your to-dos? 

Time confetti might manifest in: 

·        Inability to relax during break times

·        Always feeling switched on

·        Constantly rushing from one thing to the next

·        Decreased ability to focus

·        Anxiety when you’re not “busy”

·        Stronger tendency towards unproductive multitasking

·        Feeling like you never have enough time

o   This is actually known as 'time poverty' or 'time famine' and was researched by Leslie Perlow in 1999 

If you need to feel busy at all times and/or are anxious and dissatisfied when you are not, you might be experiencing time confetti. When you try to do “everything, all at once, all the time,”  then you are never in the present here and now, and your brain does not rest. 

To fight time confetti, you can be more intentional and honest about your use of time, block time for uninterrupted work, schedule intentional breaks, protect your leisure time, and learn to say NO. Do not mistake movement for achievement. 

Rest/leisure is not a luxury, it is a necessity. We should not feel that we need to be productive 24/7. 

Now – how about that cup of tea and a book? 

Sources:

• https://hubstaff.com/blog/time-confetti/
• https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/a38696205/time-confetti/
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/time-confetti-is-making-you-work-harder-and-relax-less/104875442?future=true&
• Image: https://deepai.org/

Poem of the Week: Sea Fever

 
Image: https://deepai.org/

Sea Fever (1902) 

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over. 

~ John Masefield (1878 – 1967)
Read on: https://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/sea-fever

Selection of Funnies: Perfectly Timed Nature Photos

I wish I was half as calm as this frog at any given time.

This lizard holds the record for reptile pole vaulting. 

"And then, listen to this, he said, 'I'm not texting other girls. I promise.'"

That giraffe must have really wanted to say "what's up?" to the passengers on that plane.

When your food arrives at a restaurant and you start eating before realizing that nobody else got their meals yet.

When "Happy Monday!" emails start rolling in before you've even had your coffee.

"Excuse me, ma'am, may I speak to the manager?"

It's day one of my plant-based diet! I’m doing GREAT.

When you make eye contact with the person you’ve been gazing at from across the room... Hello, beautiful.

Source (including captions and more!): https://www.countryliving.com/life/g35653074/funny-animal-pictures 

Thought of the week – Be ‘Selectively Ignorant’

 

“Be ’selectively ignorant.’

Ignore topics that drain your attention.

Unfollow people that drain your energy.

Abandon projects that drain your time.

Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be.”

Sources:

• James Clear, https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/october-29-2020
• Image: https://deepai.org/ 

Italian Pasta Salad

Greetings all! 

If you are hosting a summer potluck or invited to one, how about putting this Italian Pasta Salad on the menu? I have not yet made this particular recipe, but I love all the ingredients so I am sure it will be delicious! 

Ingredients 

• 1 lb. cooked fusilli pasta
• 8 oz. mozzarella balls, halved
• 4 oz. salami, quartered
• 1 cup artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup pitted black olives, sliced
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper 

Directions 

• In a large bowl, toss pasta, mozzarella, salami, artichokes, tomatoes, and olives. 
• In a jar, combine oil, garlic, vinegar, parsley, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Secure with a lid, then shake to combine; season with salt and black pepper.
• Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to combine.

Bon Appetit! Let me know how you like it! 

Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19601468/italian-pasta-salad-recipe/ / PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Google Calendar’s Secret Codewords

Greetings all!

As I was reviewing my upcoming week in Google Calendar, I realized how much I enjoy seeing an event image. One of my favorites - which, alas, I have not yet  planned! - is “synchronized swimming”!😊

You can see gym, lunch, dentist, and so much more at a glance on your phone.

To get an image, sometimes you have to put more than one word, and some images look strange or just missing - so this is not very intuitive. For example, “pay bill” makes me think of going to the beach because of the waves and potentially a hot weather warning.

There is no “meeting” or “contact” image but I did find “reach out to” (make sire to include ‘to’).

Also you cannot plan for “work” – is this a sign that work should not be on our calendar? I did discover “interview” and “week planning” are good approximations.

Do you have any useful or unusual Google Calendar codewords? Drop me a line! 

Source: https://theintelligence.com/20085/google-calendar-codewords/

The World Would Be Dull Without You

Greetings all! 

Just in case you need to hear this: 

“You never have to apologize for who you are. You are enough. 

With so much noise around us constantly shaping our thoughts and actions, finding the courage to show up authentically can sometimes feel…impossible.

It’s normal to want to fit in, but belonging can never come at the expense of being true to who you are.

After all, the world would be pretty dull without you.

Remember: There’s only one you. Take that job seriously.

Reflect: Where am I playing it small in my life? How can I show up more fully in this area?

Reframe: I’m too much -> I’m just enough 

Let the you shine through! Stay true to yourself!” 

What did you think? Drop me a line  and keep on shining!

Source: CALM / Image: https://deepai.org/