An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life by Darria Long

An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life by Darria Long

An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life by Darria Long
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THE BLUE TREE

Entertainment

CEF B1

CEFR B2

Upper
Intermediate

Practise speaking by describing this image

warm up

Answer the questions. Listen to the sample answers. 

What are some common signs or indicators that suggest you may be experiencing burnout from a hectic lifestyle?
TRANSCRIPT

As a middle aged professional, juggling work and personal life can be a real challenge. I often feel burned out with the never ending demands and responsibilities. It’s like there’s no escape from work, even during downtime, thanks to our always connected digital world. I’ve noticed some symptoms of burnout, like feeling constantly tired, less productive, and disconnected from everything around me. I’ve tried time management techniques, but they’re not always easy to stick to given the nature of our jobs. That’s why I’m really looking forward to Darria Long’s presentation on triaging our “crazy busy” lives. I hope to learn some practical strategies to regain control, and find a better balance between work and personal style. Let’s see what insights she has for us.

In your opinion, what are the key challenges in balancing work, personal life, and self-care in today’s fast-paced world?
TRANSCRIPT

Well, you know, for me work has always been a top priority. I’m a 30-something single guy, and I’ve always believed putting in the effort and dedication at work will eventually pay off in my career. But the more I advance in my profession, the harder it becomes to strike that balance between work and personal life. One of the main challenges I face is finding the time and energy to invest in my personal relationships. Sometimes, I’m so caught up in work related responsibilities, that I unintentionally neglect my social life. It’s not that I don’t want to have a fulfilling personal life, but the pressure to excel at work can be all-consuming. I’ve also noticed that I tend to put self-care on the back-burner. Long hours at the office and tight deadlines often leave me exhausted and I rarely find time to unwind and take care of myself. I’m hoping to gain  some valuable insights from Darria Long’s presentation on triaging our busy lives. It’s essential for me to learn effective strategies to balance work and personal life better, and maybe even find ways to prioritize self-care amids professional ambitions. I’m eager to see how I can make positive changes and achieve a more fulfilling life overall.

Have you tried any time management techniques or strategies in the past? If so, how effective were they in helping you regain control over your busy schedule?
TRANSCRIPT

I’ve attended numerous seminars on productivity. And among them, the ideas of Steven Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” have resonated with me the most. The principles of proactive behavior, putting first things first and seeking win-win solutions have been truly transformative. However, I must admit that putting these habits into practice is not a walk in the park. The daily demands of my managerial role can be intense, leaving little room for personal development and self reflection. It’s not always easy to break old habits and adopt new ones, especially under pressure to deliver results and meet deadlines. Finding the time to reflect, prioritize and set meaningful goals requires consistent effort, and I sometimes find myself slipping into old patterns of reactive behavior. Despite the challenges, I remain committed to integrating these habits into my routine, as I’ve seen the positive impact they can have on both my professional and personal life. It’s a continuous journey of improvement, and I’m eager to learn more from presentations like Darria Long’s on triaging our busy lives. Gaining additional insights and practical strategies to complement the 7 Habits can help me refine my approach and create a more balanced and fulfilling life, both as a manager and as an individual.

part one

key language

watch the video

COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 0:20 Would you have risen your hand to the question: “Have you ever used the phrase “Crazy Busy””?
  • ⌚ 0:34 Does Darria use this word in the ER?
  • ⌚ 1:11 How does the Crazy Mode diminish our capability of handling the ‘busy’?
  • ⌚ 1:37 What does the research show about our ability to react to a stressful situation?
  • ⌚ 1:48 What does Darria contrast the “Crazy Mode’ with?
  • ⌚ 2:19 What does being in the “Ready Mode” mean in general?

part two

key language

watch the video

COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 2:35 What is the first step to go from Crazy Mode to Ready Mode?
  • ⌚ 2:50 What does it mean to triage? 
  • ⌚ 2:58 What does the work of Dr. Robert Sapolsky show?
  • ⌚ 3:15 What are the colours of triage? What do they mean?
  • ⌚ 3:34 What is part of the problem with Crazy Mode?
  • ⌚ 4:11 How does noise make triaging more difficult?

part three

key language

watch the video

COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 5:19 How does Darria approach the green tasks?
  • ⌚ 5:34 What does the black colour mean in triage?
  • ⌚ 5:51 What are black tasks in our lives?
  • ⌚ 6:12 What is the next step in moving from Crazy Mode to Ready Mode?
  • ⌚ 6:28 What does science tell us about the relationship between a number of choices and our decisions?
  • ⌚ 6:40 What is the second step about?
  • ⌚ 7:39 How does planning, autonomating, collocating, and decreasing temptations help with designing?

part four

key language

watch the video

COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 8:09 What is the third step of getting from Crazy Mode to Ready Mode?
  • ⌚ 8:44 What matters when we get scared?
  • ⌚ 8:59 How can being scared derail us?
  • ⌚ 9:18 How does Darria get our of her head?
  • ⌚ 9:42 What effect does compassion have on tunnel vision and negative internal monologue?

part five

key language

watch the video

COMPREHENSION

  • ⌚ 11:04 How did the other patients react when Darria helped deliver a baby?
  • ⌚ 11:13 What happens when you go from Crazy Mode into Ready Mode?
  • ⌚ 11:29 What does Darria encourage us to do?
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DISCUSSION

Answer the questions below. Try to throw some newly learned words and phrases.

  • Have you ever found yourself in “Crazy Busy Mode”? How did it affect your ability to handle your responsibilities, both at work and in your personal life? 

  • Dr. Darria Long mentions the importance of triaging tasks and prioritizing by degree of urgency. Can you think of a recent situation in your life where proper triaging could have helped you manage your busy schedule more effectively? 

  • According to the presentation, reducing daily decisions can help alleviate stress. How do you currently manage decision-making in your daily life, and can you identify any areas where you could implement automation or planning to make it easier? 

  • Dr. Darria Long talks about getting out of your head and focusing on others as a tactic to disrupt tunnel vision and improve decision-making. Can you share a situation when this approach could be helpful in your life or work? 

  • The presentation emphasizes the importance of being in “Ready Mode” and embracing challenges with confidence. How can you apply the concept of “Ready Mode” to your daily life, and what steps can you take to build resilience and preparedness for handling busy times?

POLL

Cast your vote in the poll below. How does your answer compare with the other respondents?

Which part of Darria Long's advice on how to get into a Ready Mode do you find the most practical?

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COMMENTS

Have you got your own strategies for dealing with Crazy Mode?

Share your views and experience here.