Though it’s the best time of the year to be outside here in DC,  fresh air comes in many other forms.  Surrounding yourself with that is what keeps me breathing easier–and generally sane.  So what the heck am I talking about–and how do you find it?
 

Fresh air for me has many names,

and a couple of them are Keith and David.  They’re coworkers who have this knack for doing what they say they’re going to do, when they say they’re going to do it, time and again.  When I have a trip or deadline, I no longer stress because things just get taken care of with the two of them.

Another form of fresh air is, well, just that.  Opening the window ( I have a huge one with plenty of greenery by my desk) or working outside–as I’m doing right now–relaxes me.

Then there are people I’ve worked with or for who require constant nudging, don’t double-check things, take a long time to pay, etc.  They account for significant amounts of heavy-breathing.

And other things can suck away my energy, like a disorganized desk or piles of tasks (digital or physical) that haven’t been planned out.

This is perhaps a poor man’s version of getting toward the 80:20 rule (my advice on that here), but more than that for me it’s recognizing that certain things and people affect my state even before I start working…much like the quality of the air we breathe.  Surround yourself with fresh air and you’ll breathe easier.

Are there surroundings or types of people that profoundly affect you even before you get started?  Any tips for doing something about it?

Flickr photo credit: Twenty Questions

Filed under: 4-Hour Workweek, Business, Happiness, Productivity

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