1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and ours are more 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about how 5 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: to battle energy vampires. We all have tasks or people 6 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: who seem to suck the life out of us, but 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: as people in the stories, found ways to battle vampires 8 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: so we can keep these energy vampires away. This episode 9 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: is airing right before Halloween, and I will admit I 10 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: have creatures like ghosts and ghouls and vampires on the brain. 11 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: One of the reasons people are drawn to Halloween and 12 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: horror in general is that it's an over the top 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: manifestation of some things we encounter in real life. Fright, dread, anxiety. 14 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: We all have stuff we dread, people, tasks, and these 15 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: can weigh us down considerably. But when we do break 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: free of them, we can feel like we've battled literal monsters. 17 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: We feel triumphant and light. But how do we do that? 18 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: The first step is to see things for what they are. 19 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: As you go through your day, keep track of your 20 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: energy levels. When do you feel most excited and motivated? 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: When do you feel like you'd be willing to pay 22 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: some serious cash to get out of something. Pay attention. 23 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: We can't automatically change some energy draining situations, but sometimes 24 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: we can. Is there a particular person who you find draining. 25 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: Maybe you notice that every meeting with him or her 26 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,639 Speaker 1: leaves you at a two on a ten point energy scale. 27 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: If so, ponder if there is a way to limit 28 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: your exposure. Perhaps there are new projects you can pursue. 29 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: Perhaps you can create your own teams for projects with 30 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: new and different people. If it's not possible to move away, 31 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: you can also create better boundaries. Say at the start 32 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: of any conversation what you will be covering, and end 33 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: the conversation. If it moves beyond that, say how long 34 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: you have and simply end what you're doing. If the 35 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: time moves beyond that. When you don't appear to be 36 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,119 Speaker 1: a good source of fresh blood, the energy vampire will 37 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: move on to more fertile hunting grounds. You can also 38 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: do things to replenish yourself newte when the vampire appears 39 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: on your calendar, proactively plan in something rejuvenating before and after. 40 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: That could be a walk outside, reading something inspirational, calling 41 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: a work friend, having lunch with your spouse. I note 42 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: that this is a good approach for people who are 43 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: behaving in a vampire fashion in your personal life too. 44 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: I love my children dearly, but from time to time, 45 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: one or more of them will go through a bit 46 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: of a vampire phase. When that's happening, I recognize that 47 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: I can ford if I myself to deal with them 48 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: by taking care of myself too, and I can share 49 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: the burden. I have a co parent, other relatives, adult 50 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,839 Speaker 1: mentors the kids know, and I can teach them coping strategies, 51 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: like taking deep breaths or getting some exercise. As for 52 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: work tasks that are uniquely draining, we always have the 53 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: option to ignore, minimize, or outsource. Does the work truly 54 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: need to be done? Sometimes it does, but not always. 55 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: Maybe you can make sure to limit the total time 56 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: you will work on the draining project for no more 57 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: than an hour before you move on to other things. 58 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: You will be very clear on the scope in order 59 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: to set boundaries, or you'll see if there are other 60 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: people who enjoy this sort of work. Much work is 61 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: neither good or bad per se, it's how we view it. 62 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: You can do this with personal tasks as well. If 63 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: you find bathing kids draining, bathe them less often. It 64 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: will be okay. Foist it off on your partner, or 65 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: make this part of a babysitter's duties. Teach the kids 66 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: to bathe themselves as soon as they possibly can. Unlike 67 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 1: the mythical vampires, energy vampires are unfortunately real. They walk 68 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: among us, but we don't have to succumb to them. 69 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: Push back, rework your schedule, limit exposure. You'll feel far 70 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: better whether it's Halloween time or not. In the meantime, 71 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding 72 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: in the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is 73 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit 74 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,159 Speaker 1: the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 75 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: get your favorite shows.