WEBVTT - The New Corner Office: Battle energy vampires

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office,

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<v Speaker 1>the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the

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<v Speaker 1>new world of work, where location and ours are more

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<v Speaker 1>flexible than in the past. Today's tip is about how

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<v Speaker 1>to battle energy vampires. We all have tasks or people

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<v Speaker 1>who seem to suck the life out of us, but

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<v Speaker 1>as people in the stories, found ways to battle vampires

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<v Speaker 1>so we can keep these energy vampires away. This episode

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<v Speaker 1>is airing right before Halloween, and I will admit I

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<v Speaker 1>have creatures like ghosts and ghouls and vampires on the brain.

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<v Speaker 1>One of the reasons people are drawn to Halloween and

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<v Speaker 1>horror in general is that it's an over the top

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<v Speaker 1>manifestation of some things we encounter in real life. Fright, dread, anxiety.

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<v Speaker 1>We all have stuff we dread, people, tasks, and these

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<v Speaker 1>can weigh us down considerably. But when we do break

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<v Speaker 1>free of them, we can feel like we've battled literal monsters.

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<v Speaker 1>We feel triumphant and light. But how do we do that?

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<v Speaker 1>The first step is to see things for what they are.

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<v Speaker 1>As you go through your day, keep track of your

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<v Speaker 1>energy levels. When do you feel most excited and motivated?

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<v Speaker 1>When do you feel like you'd be willing to pay

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<v Speaker 1>some serious cash to get out of something. Pay attention.

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<v Speaker 1>We can't automatically change some energy draining situations, but sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>we can. Is there a particular person who you find draining.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe you notice that every meeting with him or her

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<v Speaker 1>leaves you at a two on a ten point energy scale.

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<v Speaker 1>If so, ponder if there is a way to limit

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<v Speaker 1>your exposure. Perhaps there are new projects you can pursue.

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<v Speaker 1>Perhaps you can create your own teams for projects with

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<v Speaker 1>new and different people. If it's not possible to move away,

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<v Speaker 1>you can also create better boundaries. Say at the start

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<v Speaker 1>of any conversation what you will be covering, and end

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<v Speaker 1>the conversation. If it moves beyond that, say how long

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<v Speaker 1>you have and simply end what you're doing. If the

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<v Speaker 1>time moves beyond that. When you don't appear to be

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<v Speaker 1>a good source of fresh blood, the energy vampire will

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<v Speaker 1>move on to more fertile hunting grounds. You can also

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<v Speaker 1>do things to replenish yourself newte when the vampire appears

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<v Speaker 1>on your calendar, proactively plan in something rejuvenating before and after.

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<v Speaker 1>That could be a walk outside, reading something inspirational, calling

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<v Speaker 1>a work friend, having lunch with your spouse. I note

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<v Speaker 1>that this is a good approach for people who are

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<v Speaker 1>behaving in a vampire fashion in your personal life too.

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<v Speaker 1>I love my children dearly, but from time to time,

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<v Speaker 1>one or more of them will go through a bit

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<v Speaker 1>of a vampire phase. When that's happening, I recognize that

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<v Speaker 1>I can ford if I myself to deal with them

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<v Speaker 1>by taking care of myself too, and I can share

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<v Speaker 1>the burden. I have a co parent, other relatives, adult

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<v Speaker 1>mentors the kids know, and I can teach them coping strategies,

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<v Speaker 1>like taking deep breaths or getting some exercise. As for

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<v Speaker 1>work tasks that are uniquely draining, we always have the

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<v Speaker 1>option to ignore, minimize, or outsource. Does the work truly

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<v Speaker 1>need to be done? Sometimes it does, but not always.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe you can make sure to limit the total time

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<v Speaker 1>you will work on the draining project for no more

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<v Speaker 1>than an hour before you move on to other things.

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<v Speaker 1>You will be very clear on the scope in order

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<v Speaker 1>to set boundaries, or you'll see if there are other

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<v Speaker 1>people who enjoy this sort of work. Much work is

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<v Speaker 1>neither good or bad per se, it's how we view it.

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<v Speaker 1>You can do this with personal tasks as well. If

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<v Speaker 1>you find bathing kids draining, bathe them less often. It

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<v Speaker 1>will be okay. Foist it off on your partner, or

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<v Speaker 1>make this part of a babysitter's duties. Teach the kids

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<v Speaker 1>to bathe themselves as soon as they possibly can. Unlike

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<v Speaker 1>the mythical vampires, energy vampires are unfortunately real. They walk

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<v Speaker 1>among us, but we don't have to succumb to them.

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<v Speaker 1>Push back, rework your schedule, limit exposure. You'll feel far

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<v Speaker 1>better whether it's Halloween time or not. In the meantime,

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<v Speaker 1>this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's the succeeding

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<v Speaker 1>in the New Corner Office. The New Corner Office is

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<v Speaker 1>a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts, visit

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<v Speaker 1>the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you

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<v Speaker 1>get your favorite shows.