HELLO/AANII,
Welcome to the March 2022 edition of our newsletter dedicated to the topic of procrastination.

Procrastination happens to all of us. Regardless of how organized we are in certain areas of our life, we will typically procrastinate in others. With an average day filled with tasks to do, people to see, reports to write, meetings to go to, errands to run, children to attend to, etc., it is easy to find ourselves overwhelmed, and to default to procrastination to find a bit of refuge. The problem is that that refuge is illusionary and it eventually creates that nagging sensation of not meeting one’s obligations. If you are interested, there are ways/methods you can apply to your routine to become a bit more procrastination resistant. Hopefully, this newsletter will help you with that by inspiring you to implement changes to your day and your physical space. When it comes to me, the resource I found most useful is Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, and Creativity. A bit lengthy but chock full of tips to choose from.

Additionally, if you have any resources on procrastination that you would like to share with our Early Years Community, please send them my way.
On a personal note, I have been recently paying more attention to sunrises and sunsets. They are usually quite stunning, like the sunrise in the photo taken by my friend.

Stay in touch,
Baa Maa Pii Gaawaabmin (I’ll See You Later)
Kasia Oxley, Children’s Services Community Facilitator, Children’s Programs and Services
Work Cell: (705) 644-1533
Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice. 
Optimizing Workspace for Productivity, Focus, & Creativity | Huberman Lab Podcast #57

Time commitment: 1 hour, 41 minutes, 55 seconds
Areas of interest: productivity, physical environment, neuroscience, human biology
Format: video

In this episode, Andrew Huberman discusses ways to set up your workspace to optimize productivity, focus and creativity. He discusses how to adjust light, physically arrange your work environment, and leverage body posture to enhance productivity. Additionally, he explores how to shift your work environment for particular types of tasks. Moreover, he reviews the role of body movement in the workspace. He also discusses sound-based tools that can either enhance or diminish cognitive functioning (the ability to focus on deep work). He describes a particular frequency of binaural beats that studies show can be used to enhance memory and recall. This episode covers quality peer-reviewed findings practical tools anyone can use, regardless of budget, to optimize their workspace to achieve heightened productivity levels, increased alertness and focus, and creativity.

How to schedule deep work: Time blocking | Cal Newport and Lex Fridman

Time commitment: 7 minutes, 17 seconds
Areas of interest: scheduling, deep work, time management
Format: video

Lex Fridman’s conversation with Cal Newport is a computer scientist who also writes about productivity.

How to Beat Procrastination

Time commitment: under 20 minutes
Areas of interest: procrastination, planning, tips
Format: article

Let me start by saying that I’ve had just about enough of the irony of battling through crippling procrastination while trying to write posts on procrastination and how to beat it. I’ve spent the last two weeks being this guy, who shoots himself in the foot while talking about gun safety, and I look forward to getting back to irony-free procrastination following this post.

Why Procrastinators Procrastinate

Time commitment: under 10 minutes
Areas of interest: procrastination, psychology
Format: pdf

pro-cras-ti-na-tion |prəˌkrastəˈnāSHən, prō-| noun the action of delaying or postponing something: your first tip is to avoid procrastination.

Who would have thought that after decades of struggle with procrastination, the dictionary, of all places, would hold the solution.

Avoid procrastination. So elegant in its simplicity.

Please write to Kasia to let her know your thoughts on Procastination or any other topic for a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50)
EARLY YEARS PROFESSIONALS IN MUSKOKA
Christine Waller
What is your current job, and how did you arrive at it? In other words, why do you do what you do?
I currently work for the District of Muskoka as an EarlyON Educator. My son, Fox, is the reason I went to school to become an ECE. He was unlike any other child I had ever met, and I desperately wanted to understand him and help him thrive. Since being in the field, I have learned that I need the playfulness that childhood brings. I need to see things with wonder and working with children and families helps me do that.

Please tell me how your involvement within the early years profession created a better outcome for a child/family without disclosing confidential information.
I used to run a Getting Ready For Kindergarten program. One child was reluctant to leave his mother for the hour that the program ran. He would have physical outbursts and was obviously very uncomfortable when she left. We were able to keep her in an adjoining room and form a relationship with the child, so he eventually became independent for the whole program without anxiety or stress.

What's most challenging about the work you do?
The most challenging thing over the last two years has been navigating technology. We moved to an online program and quickly created content after Covid hit. I am not tech-savvy and need to develop the skills to film and produce videos, use Zoom to connect with families virtually.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love being with friends, hiking, reading books and swimming with my son.

What book/resource could you recommend to our readers?
I recommend the Gravenhurst YMCA. It gets adults and kids engaged and active. They have children’s swimming lessons and clubs as well as adult exercise classes and gym equipment. These fees can be subsidized for low-income individuals.

What’s your favorite quote?
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”- Dr. Seuss.

Who inspires you and why?
Will Smith inspires me. I have loved his sense of humour since I was a child, but I recently read his autobiography and found out so many shocking details of his life. I admire his resilience and perseverance. He lived through abuse and pushed himself to be his best. He created a family that has closeness but individual freedom. He’s not afraid to take risks or show his vulnerability.

In the last couple of years, what new belief, behavior, habit, or item has most 
improved your life?
 I engaged in something called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy several years ago and found it life-changing. It is like group therapy featuring meditation and mindfulness. I have learned about the duality within myself. This helps me to assess situations more accurately. I have let go of preconceived ideas and many anxieties thanks to DBT.

What advice would you give your teenage self?
If something feels wrong, it usually is.

What would you take with you to a desert island?
Drinking water, books, and a large selection of cheese.

Anything else that you would like to share?
When it comes to anyone, connection before correction is a motto I live by.
Fun Corner!
Click here ,or the picture above, to answer the poll about procrastination!


Feburary 2022 Poll winner:
Teri Wright
Congratulations Teri!

INSPIRATION CORNER
Have You Heard About?
For a chance to win a resource of your choice (value of up to $50), please submit a reflection of yours to Kasia on a topic of your choice that you would like to be considered for publication in one of the upcoming newsletter editions. 

Your submission does not have to be in a form of an essay, other forms of expression are welcome, such as: poetry, video footage, note, opinion piece, interview, photos accompanied by a short text, review, etc.  
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