1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and ours are more 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about how 5 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: to battle energy vampires. We all have tasks or people 6 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: who seem to suck the life out of us, but 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: as people in the stories, found ways to battle vampires 8 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: so we can keep these energy vampires away. This episode 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: is airing right before Halloween, and I will admit I 10 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: have creatures like ghosts and ghouls and vampires on the brain. 11 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: One of the reasons people are drawn to Halloween and 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: horror in general is that it's an over the top 13 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: manifestation of some things we encounter in real life. Fright, dread, anxiety. 14 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: We all have stuff we dread, people, tasks, and these 15 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,400 Speaker 1: can weigh us down considerably. But when we do break 16 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: free of them, we can feel like we've battled literal monsters. 17 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 1: We feel triumphant and light. But how do we do that? 18 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: The first step is to see things for what they are. 19 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: As you go through your day, keep track of your 20 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: energy levels. When do you feel most excited and motivated? 21 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: When do you feel like you'd be willing to pay 22 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: some serious cash to get out of something. Pay attention. 23 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: We can't automatically change some energy draining situations, but sometimes 24 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: we can. Is there a particular person who you find draining. 25 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: Maybe you notice that every meeting with him or her 26 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: leaves you at a two on a ten point energy scale. 27 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: If so, ponder if there is a way to limit 28 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: your exposure. Perhaps there are new projects you can pursue. 29 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: Perhaps you can create your own teams for projects with 30 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: new and different people. If it's not possible to move away, 31 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: you can also create better boundaries. Say at the start 32 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: of any conversation what you will be covering, and end 33 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: the conversation. If it moves beyond that, say how long 34 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: you have and simply end what you're doing. If the 35 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: time moves beyond that. When you don't appear to be 36 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: a good source of fresh blood, the energy vampire will 37 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: move on to more fertile hunting grounds. You can also 38 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: do things to replenish yourself newte when the vampire appears 39 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: on your calendar, proactively plan in something rejuvenating before and after. 40 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: That could be a walk outside, reading something inspirational, calling 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: a work friend, having lunch with your spouse. I note 42 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: that this is a good approach for people who are 43 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: behaving in a vampire fashion in your personal life too. 44 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: I love my children dearly, but from time to time, 45 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: one or more of them will go through a bit 46 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: of a vampire phase. When that's happening, I recognize that 47 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: I can ford a by myself to deal with them 48 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: by taking care of myself too, and I can share 49 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: the burden. I have a co parent, other relatives, adult 50 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,239 Speaker 1: mentors the kids know, and I can teach them coping 51 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: strategies like taking deep breaths or getting some exercise. As 52 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: for work tasks that are uniquely draining, we always have 53 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: the option to ignore, minimize, or outsource. Does the work 54 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: truly need to be done? Sometimes it does, but not always. 55 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: Maybe you can make sure to limit the total time 56 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: you will work on the draining project for no more 57 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: than an hour before you move on to other things. 58 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: You will be very clear on the scope in order 59 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,839 Speaker 1: to set boundaries, or you'll see if there are other 60 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: people who enjoy this sort of work. Much work is 61 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: neither good or bad per se, it's how we view it. 62 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: You can do this with personal tasks as well. If 63 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: you find bathing kids straining, bathe them less often. It 64 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: will be okay. Foist it off on your partner, or 65 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: make this part of a babysitter's duties. Teach the kids 66 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: to bathe themselves as soon as they possibly can. Unlike 67 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: the mythical vampires, energy vampires are unfortunately real. They walk 68 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: among us, but we don't have to succumb to them. 69 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: Push back, rework your schedule, limit exposure. You'll feel far 70 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: better whether it's Halloween time or not. In the meantime, 71 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding 72 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: in the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is 73 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit 74 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 75 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: get your favorite shows.