Are You Taking Work Too Personally?
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An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life by Darria Long
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An ER doctor on triaging your “crazy busy” life by Darria Long
THE BLUE TREE
Entertainment
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
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
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the first part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 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
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the second part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 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
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the third part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 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
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the fourth part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 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
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the fifth part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 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?
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?
lesson glossary
How the Work Hustle Hurts You – 3 Way to Avoid Burnout with Shade Zahrani
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5 questions to guide your career choices
Sorry, but lessons on The Blue Tree work only on a computer or a tablet.
Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.
Do zobaczenia na większym ekranie 🙂
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5 questions to guide your career choices
THE BLUE TREE
Personal
Productivity
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
WARM UP QUESTIONS
Answer the questions below. Listen the other people’s answers before you answer yourself.
| How satisfied are you with the way your career is developing? |
TRANSCRIPT
I’m somewhat satisfied with my career so far. I really enjoy working in the bank’s marketing team, where I can be creative and use my people skills. However, I do wish I could be more focused and disciplined to achieve my long-term goals. There’s definitely more I could be doing to grow and develop, and that’s something I’m working on.
| What do you like the most/the least about your current position? |
TRANSCRIPT
What I like the most about my job in HR is the ability to combine my passion for psychology with fostering positive relationships at work. I get to help create a supportive environment, which is really fulfilling. The least favorite part might be the occasional challenges that come with handling conflicts or difficult situations, but I try to approach them with a calm and composed mindset.
| If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose and why? |
TRANSCRIPT
If I could have any job in the world, I’d probably choose to be an environmental technologist or work on projects that combine technology and sustainability. I’m passionate about problem-solving and innovation, and I care deeply about environmental conservation. Working on something that helps protect our planet while using my skills in tech would be ideal.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
Alita and Pete are discussing the questions above. Read (role play) their dialogue. Check out all the language you might not know.
Alita: “Yo Pete, how’s it going? I’ve been thinking a lot about my career lately, and I’m not sure if I’m in the right place.”
Pete: “What’s been on your mind, Alita? Are you having doubts about your current job?”
Alita: “Yeah, I just feel like I’m not challenged enough in my role. And I don’t really like some of the tasks I have to do. But I don’t know what else I could see myself doing.”
Pete: “I hear ya. It can be tough to figure out what you want to do with your career. But let me ask you, what do you like the most about your job?”
Alita: “I love the people I work with. They’re all really cool and we get along great. But that’s about it, to be honest.”
Pete: “Well, that’s something. And what about the least? What don’t you like about your job?”
Alita: “I just feel like I’m not learning anything new, and I’m not contributing to the company in a meaningful way. It’s just a dead-end job, you know?”
Pete: “I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t give up hope just yet. If you could have any job in the world, what would you choose and why?”
Alita: “I’ve always been interested in sustainability and the environment. So if I could have any job, I’d want to work in a company that is making a real impact in that area. I want to feel like I’m making a difference.”
Pete: “That’s great, Alita. It’s important to find a job that aligns with your values and passions. Keep exploring and don’t be afraid to take risks. You’ll find the right path for you.”
key language
Check the words and expressions in this Quizlet. Do you know them all? Do you know how to pronounce them?
LISTENING
Listen to the recording of the article. What is the main idea behind it?
reading
Read the article you have just heard. Play the recording again and follow the speaker when you read.
5 Questions to Guide Your Career Choices
Careers evolve and unfold over many years — even decades. So how can you be sure that you’re on the right path and you’ll achieve your definition of success? To take control of your future, step back and reflect on your present. Ask yourself the following five questions:
How fulfilled do I feel? This is often about whether you’re able to express your values at work. Identify what’s most important to you and then consider, “On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the ideal, how well am I able to express this value in my job?”
How am I learning and growing? To what extent are you building competence or expertise in your sector or function? What competencies do you want to develop further in the year ahead?
Am I headed toward a long-term goal? While everyone hates the question “Where do you want to be in 10 years?” stepping back to figure out a broad vision can help you pursue opportunities more proactively, versus reactively. You might ask yourself “What do I want in my (work) life in three to five years?” which is a more manageable chunk of time.
What seeds can I plant today that will benefit me tomorrow? Career success is often the result of the cumulative effects of small, regular actions.
What relationships do I need to build to help me realize my vision? You can’t do it alone, no matter what the “it” is. Given your goals, who are the people who can help you get there?
This tip is adapted from “Ask These 5 Questions to Decide Your Next Career Move,” by Rebecca Zucker
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niezauważalny, niedostrzegalny
uzupełnić
obietnica, postanowienie
trzymać się
COMPREHENSION
Answer the questions below. Refer to the information from the text and your own experience and opinions.
- How can someone be sure they are on the right career path?
- What is the importance of expressing one’s values in a job?
- Why is it important to consider building competence and expertise in one’s sector or function?
- How can thinking about a long-term goal help in pursuing opportunities?
- What is the significance of planting seeds for future career success?
- Why are relationships important for realizing one’s career vision?
- How does the author suggest someone should evaluate their level of fulfillment in their job?
- How does the text suggest that one should approach setting short-term and long-term career goals?
- What are the 5 questions that someone should ask themselves to guide their career choices?
PRACTICE
Practise some language for talking about being satisfied.
Create some sentences with these words and idioms. How can you use them to describe your level of satisfaction?
Listen to the model answer provided by Pete.
POLL
Cast your vote in this poll.
COMMENTS
How satisfied are you at work?
Why Having Fun Is the Secret to a Healthier Life by Catherine Price
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COMMENTS
Have you got your own strategies for dealing with Crazy Mode?
Share your views and experience here.