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Good morning and welcome to Episode 74 of the Train Your Brain Podcast with Dr. Michael Trayford. Every Monday we produce a 30-minute episode. Tuesday through Sunday we produce episodes with five-minute tips. Every episode of the Train Your Brain Podcast features a tip, so you can receive pointers 365 days a year that will help enhance the performance of your brain!
This morning Dr. Trayford shares tip number 74. Your brain and body are the only brain and body that you’re going to get, so take care of them and carefully calculate the cost of using them in stressful situations. You might have the ability to complete a stressful task, but have you weighed the cost of your stress levels, your time and your energy? Dr. Trayford encourages trying new things and keeping your mind engaged, but make sure to delegate, if possible, to help manage or even decrease your stress levels!
Jason: I’m excited for this tip, because I think it’s one of the most important skills you can learn.
I know it’s been very helpful for me. I know several people and friends that have tried to have their own podcasts and do it alone. I hear their war stories and it makes me appreciate working with you. It wasn’t an area where I wanted to do it myself.
Delegate if possible also extends to hiring out or outsourcing if possible. We had a meeting at the office yesterday where everyone talked about what their number one strength was. And you learn very quickly that you may not know what people’s strengths are. It helps give you a good idea for what people are really good at.
While we need to address our weaknesses, it’s even more important to exploit your strengths.
Jason: May I ask what your strength that you gave?
I’m very good at big picture thinking and keeping a bird’s eye view. But just like with this podcast undertaking that we’re doing here. I get mired in the details and get paralyzed in the details. I’ve learned to delegate or hire out, because I know that it will save me time and money in the long term as well as reduce stress.
If it wasn’t for you I’d be on episode 4 not 74.
Delegating is something we all need to embrace. A lot of people are too proud or in a lot of cases too thick headed to let someone else do something. The bottom line is that most people aren’t going to do things exactly the way we want them to do it. But just let them do it. Whether it’s your children or people at work. While it shouldn’t be exploitative, try to find the things that other people can be doing that you don’t need to be doing to be your most productive self.
This can be an empowering stress-management technique to help unload some things to other capable people who can help you get the things done that you really need done.
When I started having people doing tasks that were difficult for me, but that someone else liked to do, it helped them to feel empowered, because they were solving problems on things that their boss or team leader wasn’t necessarily good at.
When people get the chance to be a part of the process it can be very empowering for all. If delegating can be done in that fashion, then you should absolutely go for it.
If you’re doing projects that you maybe aren’t the best at. Maybe it’s a home improvement project that you have the ability to do, but you’re hurting yourself, or taking time away from their business, then it might be best to outsource and hire someone else to do it, so you can spend time working at the things you’re good at, or getting to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Just remember to be patient with the people you are outsourcing to. Chances are it’s not going to be perfect the first go-round. Try not to micromanage the process, as this just ends up creating double stress.
If you have any concerns regarding the information and applications discussed in this podcast, please consult your physician and a doctor who is experienced in functional neurology. Michael Trayford DC, DACNB is available for consultation by calling (828) 708-5274. Thanks for listening. Continue reading
