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I THINK OF MY DADAS ONE OF MY GREATESTTEACHERSin life. I learned from him by watching who he was, what he did, and what he had to offer his family. My dad grew up in the Philippines, graduated from medical school, and immigrated to Canada work as an EMT in Edmonton. He fell in love with my mother, who had just graduated from the University of Alberta with her degree in Education. They decided to get married and moved to the Maritimes. My dad’s dream of practicing medicine in Canada soon became a reality when he landed a residency position Everything seemed to be falling into place for our family. There were two breadwinners to support us and they were doing what most parents of their generation wished they could do for their children: providing opportunities for a better life than they themselves had growing up. However, in the last seventeen years of his life, my father was not a very productive man by society’s standards: he could no longer work or provide any his wife and children, and at certain times, he saw his own life as a burden to his loved ones. When I was two years old, my father underwent emergency neurosurgery to remove a brain tumour the size of a small grapefruit. His colleagues from the neurology department were able to save his life but predicted that he would only have a year to live. Literally overnight, he went from Dr. Rivero, a practicing doctor to Dr. Rivero, a “disabled” father, brain injuries as a result of his tumour and was never the same person again. At times, he would behave like a tantrumming and aggressive two-year-old, while simultaneously acting like an ataxic ninety-year-old man with Alzheimer’s. It could be said that his “productivity” to society was non-existent since he was no longer able to practice medicine, let alone “work” productivity for our family, my mom’s teaching profession became the most important. We now had only one bread-winner. WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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I am often asked how he lived seventeen more years after his surgery. I believe that he found alternative means of feeling productive and living meaningfully. My mom enrolled my brother and I into activities that not only spoke to our own interests but also to my dad’s passions: music, dance, martial arts; and we hosted social gatherings, turning our little cluttered condominium into a therapy den. When he had enough strength to walk again, he would venture out of the house and frequent old garage sales where he’d purchase knick-knacks and pick up tools or scrap wood. He would collect things that our family had no use for but to him meant something. However, at any given moment, he would forget the items’ intended use and they would end up in our basement “archive.” When I was a toddler, my brother, dad and I would watch old Bruce Lee Kung Fu movies and my dad would have me practice my moves in our living room. He would rewind the VCR over and over again until I had performed the moves correctly. Simple card games of Black Jack and music therapy including percussion and organ jam sessions became meaningful cognitive therapy regulation for my dad on a daily basis. It was not Michael Jackson alone who taught me how to moon walk, but also my dad’s persistence in practicing. My dad may not have been considered “productive” to the workforce of society, but he certainly was productive in his own way and in fact was literally keeping himself alive. When I was nineteen years old, my father told me on his deathbed that he would love me forever, and that he would always be my dad, even after he kept him alive all those years. It was his family: his children and his wife. It was the meaning that my brother and I gave him in all of those “therapy” sessions over the years. His brain tumour injury may have taken away his productivity as a doctor, as a martial artist, as an outdoorsman, and even as a musician, but he never let it strip the productivity of being the best father that he could be. I dedicate this, the productivity issue of WOOSH, to my father, the late Dr. Jose Z. Rivero who made me the man, professional, and husband that I am today. WOOSH! Sincerely, Jonathan Rivero, BSCOT, OT(C) CEO & FOUNDER - Qi Creative
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H EATHER SHERWOOD ~ MSCSLP, R.SLP, SLP( C) Speech Language Pathologist & Coach R EMEMBER THAT CHEER FOR BASKETBALL and other high school sports teams? Be Aggressive, be be Aggressive! Well, right now, all I can think is...Be Productive, be be Productive! So off I go, no time to sit here and write this bio, I’ve got things to do!
H ELEN C HAU ~ BA, MSCOT Occupational Therapist & Coach W HEN W E THINK PRODUCTIVITY , we think work. But who says work can’t be fun too? In fact, a child’s primary occupation is play! Sometimes because of our busy, over-scheduled, “productive” mama, I’m looking forward to a change in my productivity, and spending time playing again with my baby!
MELISSA M O ~ BSCOT, OT(C) Occupational Therapist & Coach W HAT IS MY PURPOSE? What do I love? How can I use my talents to inspire others? These are just some of the questions that come to mind when thinking about productivity. To me, productivity is not measured by how much I can do but rather the meaning that is derived from what I am doing and making each moment feel special and important. What does productivity mean to you?!
SAM PATHIRANA ~ BSCOT Occupational Therapist & Coach W ISHING YOU A WONDERFUL and productive day. Hope you know why. :) There is meaning in everything, big or small, but only what meaning you give it. Give it all you have, and any one thing, can become your everything. WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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BRONWEN B LACK ~ BA, MSCOT Occupational Therapist & Coach I BELIEVE THAT WORK AND PLAY SHOULD BE MERGED together. That creates my best productivity!
PAULA AUDREY R IVERO ~ BBA, MSW COO of Qi Creative DID YOU KNOW THAT TIME YOU ENJOY WASTING, IS NOT WASTED? If I want time to be productive, I must make it productive. Sit down and relax, it’s time to enjoy not doing anything:). We all deserve a little bit of productivity time doing nothing.
MICHAEL SCHWAKE ~ BSC, BED Education Consultant & Coach Tick tock goes the clock as the day passes me by. How much can I get done and will it be fun? Productivity is an adventure of life.
JACKIE ANDERSEN ~ BED, BPE, MSCOT, OT (C) Occupational Therapist & Coach W HAT IS PRODUCTIVITY TO ME? It’s that wonderful feeling I get when I have accomplished a day’s work, crossed off a goal, or completed an errand or chore. BUT…it’s also the time I have taken to celebrate my progress! As we head back into the busy fall season and a new school year, I vow to remember to take time to celebrate even small accomplishments along the way, and to take breaks to reenergize and refocus.
BRENNAN B LACK ~ BA Communications Director & Designer FOR ME, PRODUCTIVITY IS THE BY- PRODUCT OF A CAREFUL MIXTURE of coffee, plans to reward myself, scheduling and a painful dash of waiting for inspiration. When the levels are correct, good, pleasant work results.
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PRODUCTIVITY CAN MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS . For me, it means writing reports, calling clients, visiting families, working with children, even writing this article. It also includes washing the dishes, buying groceries, paying bills, taking out the garbage, and more recently, it’s involved changing diapers, making formula, and sterilizing bottles–please don’t lecture me about breast-feeding; we get it, we’re trying and we’re persistent, but sometimes baby is still hungry! All these things give me a sense of accomplishment, and give my life purpose. But when you add this list to the innumerable other mundane and sometimes tedious tasks we all have to do things can start to seem a little overwhelming. Inevitably, stress piles up as the To Do list consistently gets longer: e-mails keep coming, deadlines loom ever closer, and at some point, the desire to curl up in a ball, and hide under a blanket overtakes me. My productivity comes to a screeching halt. Getting down to business and crossing the next thing off my list just feels futile. When will it ever end? Why not just give up, sell the house and car, move to Sri Lanka and live on the beach?
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Oh the beach life, without a care in the world... No To Do the stirring of the ocean lulls me to sleep. Of course, at some point, logic and fruit, and unless I want to sleep on the beach in the middle of a monsoon, I’d probably need to build a shelter...so would I really be better off? My mind starts to wander back to my lists again, but a part of me still resists...no more work, no more chores...please, no more!!! It’s at this point, stuck between running away (which I know will never work), and a lifetime of lists, deadlines and things that I just don’t feel like doing, that I ask myself: Why? WHY do I do the things I do? on my list, there has to be a why. Why why’s, and among the most important are: making a difference in the lives of others, providing for my family and sharing my beliefs and values with the world. Connecting. Building. Growing. When I put my lists into context, and focus not on the tasks, but the why’s attached to each one, life becomes simpler and seems less overwhelming. To do this, I start with the most important why I struggle to get going, I think of a better why. In the end, I can’t think of a better reason than her. :) - Sam Pathirana
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I HAVE TO ADMIT... I’ve spent my fair share of time playing Angry Birds. It’s highly addictive. It’s so much fun! It is something I want to spend my time on. Anyone who works with kids would probably agree that if a person could (school work, chores, shopping trips, productivity!) as engaging and motivating as video games and apps such as Angry Birds, then they would be a millionaire. Having played Angry Birds so much, I have assessed some of the components that make it so fun and successful. I have come up with some thoughts...that if we as adults could make daily expectations more like Angry Birds, then perhaps our kids could be more successful!! Here are my thoughts: Clear, Simple Expectation of What Needs to Happen There are birds on one side and pigs on the other. The birds knock down the towers and the pigs fall down. It is very clear in Angry Birds what needs to very simple so that this expectation can clearly be communicated to whoever is playing, without words or written instructions! I have seen the tiniest children as well as my ninety-year-old great aunt pick up what needs to happen within twenty seconds of trying it out!
If we are more clear and simple about our expectations for what the kids need to do, then they are more able to understand what is needed. words or explanation...a simple set up, visual or object outlining what needs to happen is enough! Grading: It Starts Easy And Gets Harder We often expect or hope that kids will be able to complete a whole shopping trip or math class right off the bat. That would be like expecting that a person could beat a whole game of Angry Birds with all the additional stars in one WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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sitting!!! We need to be realistic, like the Angry Birds game. We need to start Angry Birds is a tiny block structure with larger birds that are closer to the structure. As the levels progress, more birds are added, bigger and more complicated bricks and structures appear and you gradually progress to something more challenging. You don’t have to beat the whole game at once...you can beat one level at a time and still feel successful, and that is how we need to make our kids feel!
Sandwiching Easy Tasks Between Harder Tasks Have you ever noticed that after a hard level in Angry Birds that can take several hundred tries to complete, that there are a few EASY, back to the basics levels immediately after? This sandwiching of easier or “maintenance� tasks after something challenging helps give the player a break and continue that feeling of success and momentum. If we expect hard task after hard task from our kids, they will give up. They will lose motivation and momentum! The Angry Birds 10
and then after those easy ones you are ready for something challenging again! There’s Not Only One Way To Do Things! When destroying the various structures in Angry Birds, each player has the exact same birds and has to achieve the exact same goal; however, variability of HOW you achieve this goal is built into the game. Each player is welcome to use wherever they like. As adults helping kids with new learning and life skill tasks, it is important to remember that there is more than one right way to complete a task, learn a new skill and achieve a goal. We should not demand that they
do it our way, but rather give the chance to learn from them and see what expertise and innovation they bring. I like the Wait, Match, Model, More, Wait may have a way to do it that works for them that I have never thought of. Once you have done that you can mirror or Match how they are doing it to give them feedback that they have a good idea and you want in on it! Once you have done that you can Model and add More to the task to help move them forward. Most importantly, keep the mind-set that there is more than one way to do something and CELEBRATE different ways of achieving a goal! Multisensory and Rewarding Probably the most obvious quality that makes Angry Birds fun and engaging is its catchy music, bright colours, sound effects, different themes (Halloween, Star Wars, Space, Rio) and all the rewards you get...new birds, gold stars, and the satisfaction of destroying a tower of snorting green pigs. I love it! When we are introducing productivity tasks, these elements need to be in the front of our minds as well.
How do we engage the senses with colours, textures, music, sounds, and sensory experiences that our kids enjoy, so that they can buy in?
And how do we ensure that we build rewards into the task so that they can get on board and perform at their best level of motivation? Star Wars in math class? Sound effects for chore time? “Unlock A New Level” of the local grocery store Angry Birds keeps teaching me that the possibilities are endless! - Bronwen Black
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- Paula - Paula Audrey Audrey Rivero Rivero WOOSHWOOSH VolumeVolume 2, Issue2,2Issue 2
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H AVING ADHDMEANS THAT I HAVE TO WORK HARD to stay productive throughout my day. It means that I need to follow regimented schedules to keep my day really productive. This was always easier to do during the school year, when everything had to run like clockwork. My parents brought more structure to my school days by enrolling me in various extracurriculars like choir, physical activities, volunteering, and even tutoring to keep me on a schedule. Making your day more productive by adding more to it can seem daunting or even exhausting. Heck, sometimes the more work you think about the more you get stressed just thinking about it. But that’s because you aren’t thinking about the fun stuff. Like breaks, naps, play, and making sure that you are enjoying what you are doing. Some things will never not seem like work, so it’s important that we choose our attitude about them. It’s also important we keep everything in perspective, that’s where revisiting self-care is invaluable, so we can maintain perspective. Time that is always with us as the best place to start, time. When I was young I came up with a great quote that has stayed with me to this day
“Don’t block your time; it’s your inspiration.” The days
where I feel have gotten away from me are those where I lose track of time. You might fear the clock, time ticking away, but never forget time is your friend. It’s also a choice to fear time, unless you have a phobia of time, then I’d advise not thinking about it at all. I like to use a time tracking app on my phone to keep many 14
built in clock and alarm, or even Reminders app. One app I really like to use on my iPhone is called Due. It lets me save preset timers based on different activities I do throughout my day. It’s very helpful when I need to take twenty minute power naps to keep me fresh, or setting time to check my e-mails, or track how long I can spend grabbing a coffee break before getting back to other tasks. I could go on about the importance of forming a schedule, but the reality is I like to use an app called Clear it lets me create a to-do list and clear tasks out of sight and mind when they are done. This feels like a great victory! For more habitual activities, everything from brushing teeth and eating healthy, to taking a jog, I use a win celebrating app like Lift. Not only do I get to celebrate my productivity, but I can track it too. times of day. That way I can decide on what times of day I keep protected, stay unplugged from my phone, e-mails, or internet, so that I can get the most work done. Which can be hard considering how much we rely on technology these days. Organization productive. It is a challenge because organization is not my strong suit. Before my smart phone I used to have post-its everywhere to remind me what was important and even color coded stuff to work on, now I realized one thing, it just added to my clutter. Even worse, sometimes you write it, just to give yourself permission to go do something else. When you aren’t set up in a routine or using a consistent place to stay organized, it’s easy to forget or put something off too long.
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Having a notepad or app to write things down lets me keep my thoughts organized and lets me keep my workspace or home free of extra clutter. Sometimes I use the Voice Memos app to quickly record ideas I have and don’t want to forget. It lets me attempt to go paperless and remove clutter so I can keep my spaces productive. Another great app to shed paper is Genius Scan because it lets me scan important papers, save them and send them where they need to go. Which
a journal in the writing app of your choice. It’s great to be able to go back and see what worked on one day and maybe see if something worked better than we tried today. Sometimes it’s just being honest with yourself about what are your personal productivity successes and mountains. There are tons of apps out there that can help you, but maybe it’s pen and paper that works best to stay distracted and off task. You want to be productive because your tips and tricks are letting you achieve more of your goals, not because you are making your work more complicated. Find whatever works for you and commit, there will aways be something newer that could help, but changing the things that are helping can also complicate your work. That’s why you should try things and
- Michael Schwake
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PRODUCTIVITY : Sometimes you just have to Get ‘Er Done. And sometimes you don’t. For example, I am currently writing this in a hotel in Budapest, Hungary. Why? Because I did not quite have myself organized before I left’ I did not Get ‘Er Done. So, now, at the last minute (but 8 hours ahead of the deadline, because of the time zone change) I am, indeed, Getting ‘Er Done. If I had to look back and see how I could have done better, I know what I could sometimes it feels as though there is so much to get done, that you can’t start anywhere because it is all just too much. I know when I get in this head space, I Get ‘Er Done mode. It feels as though there is a mountain of Things To Get Done and they are all sitting on top of me. If I were I to try and move one of my Things To Get Done, it might upset the whole balance and the mountain would, metaphorically, come crashing down on my head. Logically, I understand that this is not true, there is no mountain, and should I start to chip away at my Things To Get Done, nothing will squash me. But that is how I feel, so instead of Getting ‘Er Done, I watch episode after episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer until... Until... I actually can’t pin point what It is that gets me into Get ‘Er Done mode. Is it the fact that actual deadlines are my own non-action that I am spurred to action? Does my husband start to do some work so I’m feeling guilty about sitting around? I don’t know what it is for me, and really, it’s probably different for everyone. So once I am spurred into action rest until everything that needs to get done, is done. Lists are created, items are crossed off once completed (one of the most satisfying things in the entire world), and Things Get Done. - Heather Sherwood WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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W HETHER YOU USE A DAY-T IMER, a mommy calendar, an App, make checklists, or write it on a white board, to-do lists can be a very helpful way to ensure you get things done, or at least try to remember to get things done. In my experience, making a to-do list has its pros and cons. The pros are that they asleep at night instead of worrying about something that I have forgotten about; and they can give some structure to the day. And of course, it feels good to cross, check, or wipe something off when it’s done! There are, however, cons too. Everyone has those days when that list seems to go on and on. You write down one thing after another and it doesn’t seem to stop. You look at the list, and then look at how many hours are in a day, and before you know it, the pro of using a list (stress relieving) is actually giving you more stress. And then adding to that, the guilt and disappointment you might feel when you don’t check off what you wanted to do, or didn’t have time for, and the list is there taunting you with all the things you didn’t get done. Yikes! So how can we turn this around and ensure the To Do list remains a helpful tool for our productive lives? First: Take a deep breath and think – you can only do your best! What does your day look like already? What can you do today? Are you setting yourself up for success or failure? How can you set yourself up for success? Next: Prioritize. It might feel good to get things off our minds by writing down every single thing that needs to be done. But perhaps we may need to organize by daily, weekly, and monthly to-dos. And prioritizing items each day – what are the top three things that must get done? If there is extra time, you can tackle the rest of the list. Next: Delegate. In other words, what can you move to someone else’s to-do list? And lastly: Celebrate what you did manage to do. Perhaps time that night, or perhaps allowing yourself an extra scoop of ice cream. Whatever it might be, remember to treat yourself for a productive day! - Helen Chau 18
I F YOU’RE AT ALL LIKE ME, you may have those days where you look at the clock and think, “Where did my day go? I know I was busy today, but what did I really get done?” Over time, I have learned (and continue to remind myself) of the difference between being busy and productive. Without focus, you can feel busy all day long without accomplishing what you set out to do. Sometimes, it is those busy days where I end up feeling the least productive. For me, being productive is something that may take a lifetime to perfect and I need to remember that some days will be more productive than others. It’s important, I believe, to not beat ourselves up when we are less productive than we had hoped or anticipated, because, after all, we are humans and not robots. When life throws us a curve ball, it’s nice to be able to adjust and reprioritize and remember that there is always tomorrow. While I still need to stop myself on busy days and refocus on my goal, I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way that help me to use my time more purposefully. I share these with you now and encourage you to try out those that speak to you. 1) Use a Timer: As a fun way to challenge myself, I often ask myself how long something should take (e.g. folding laundry, checking my email, cleaning the bathroom, etc.) and then set a timer for that length of time. In my head, it’s a race against
often than not, I meet my goal. But if I don’t beat the clock, I don’t panic or feel guilty. I simply reset the clock for a new time length and get it done as fast as I can. 2) Listen to Music: Whether I’m cooking, cleaning, driving, paying bills or doing paperwork, I use music as a motivator. If I’m doing something active, I choose tunes to invigorate me. If I’m doing paperwork, I use soothing music that keeps me alert. Some research actually suggests that music makes us more productive! It seems to work for me! WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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3) Prioritize: When I have what seems like an insurmountable to do list, I take 10 minutes not get overwhelmed and the short time spent organizing my day eliminates unnecessary stress. I usually try to put no more than 3-5 things on my daily to do list, and alternate longer, more challenging tasks with easier tasks to feel like I’m making progress. 4) Take a break: A short break every so often goes a long way in upping my overall productivity. I follow the same rule when I run. On long races, I take a one-minute walking break for every ten minutes of running. When I do this my overall time is faster than when I run continuously! I think it’s the same principal with taking a break during a busy day. Giving my body, mind and soul even a short break when I need it (at least every hour) helps me not to waste time due to fatigue or distraction. Often for me, the best kind of break is movement, like taking my dog for a walk around the block or dancing to a few upbeat songs before getting back to work. 5) Change it Up: When I’m working on paperwork, research or anything that requires me to stay seated for long periods of time, I will try to change my scenery frequently. I grow tired of using the same workstation repeatedly, so one day I will work 20
at my desk, another day the kitchen table, and another, at a coffee shop or the library. The novelty of a new space helps me clear my head and feel motivated. On days when I’m working at home, I will take ten minutes to tidy my workspace before getting down to work as an uncluttered space allows me to stay calm and focused. take time to celebrate my accomplishments, big or small. This can be as simple as calling a friend once I’ve crossed something off my list, buying a latte to enjoy while I work, or spending some quality time with my husband after a long day. These little rewards go a long way to keeping me motivated and on track with tasks and projects, as well as contributing to my self-care and overall happiness. What are your favourite ways to celebrate your hard work? Wishing you a productive and enjoyable fall season! - Jackie Andersen
I F IT TAKESLESSTHAN TWO MINUTES, do it right now! This is one of most helpful pieces of advice I have ever been given. I have found this to be extremely helpful in stopping little things from turning into Big Things. In the past, I have had a tendency to leave things laying around the house, clothes, dishes or what have you. Now, following the rule: “if it takes less than two minutes,
do it right now,”
sink, I think “how long would this actually take me to get done?” If the answer is “probably just a minute or two” I now just get it done. So, now there isn’t a pile of dirty dishes beside the sink, which means the counter is cleaner, and therefore the entire kitchen is cleaner, and my mental health is also much better. that take longer than two minutes. - Heather Sherwood WOOSH Volume 2, Issue 2
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