Nurture

Walking Into a Glass Wall and Why I Can Point a Finger at Poor Design

I wrote the post below back in 2014, but the lesson is timeless so I’m bringing it back.
This incident happened the day after meeting the iconic Don Norman who teaches that it can be poor design rather than human error that contributes to things going wrong. In this story, I can see that it is both. You’ll have to let me know what you think!

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Original Post

This morning, I walked full speed ahead into a glass wall. A glass wall I knew of. A glass wall I even anticipated someone walking into, I just didn’t think it would be me. It wasn’t pretty. Unlike Martha Stewart, I will spare you the photo.

So you know how this story will end, but allow me to back up a bit to explain how I got there. Yesterday I had a full day planned. Full of good things – a walk with my dog, lunch with inspiring entrepreneurs, delivery of a quick but meaningful productivity primer at the Women in Biz Conference, time to read the beginning of “Thrive” by Arianna Huffington while taking the subway (and reveling in NOT being stuck on our sadly in need of repair Gardiner “Expressway”, a complete misnomer for the next two years), an hour to sit in the sun and get creative, dinner and meeting fellow organizers in Toronto, and the highlight for me, listening to Don Norman, esteemed thought leader and author of “The Design of Everyday Things” in discussion at the Rotman School of Business. It’s my desire to have Pliio® become an “everyday thing” so you can imagine how interested I was to hear him speak.

I don’t often have insomnia (thankfully), but last night my mind was on fire after listening to Don’s talk and reading “Thrive” so I ended up awake for over half an hour in the middle of the night. Despite the lack of sleep, I was eager to attend my regular 8 am yoga class with a teacher who I respect for his breadth of knowledge, how he practices what he preaches, his sense of humour, and his redefinition, for me, of the term “hot” yoga. Have a peek at www.mryoga.com where you can meet Daniel and discover a wealth of information on how to practice yoga.

The class was wonderful – working out the kinks (my word for pain in muscles I didn’t know I had) of a conditioning workout I did with Brent Bishop and his crew on Saturday morning over at Think Fitness. We finished as we normally do with a restorative, mind-cleansing Shavasana also known as the far less elegant sounding ‘corpse pose’. Whether I’m getting better at the meditative state or whether, more likely, it was my bout of insomnia last night, I came out of the class feeling a little out of this world.

I had a regular client scheduled across town for 10 am, so knew I had to move quickly this morning to make it there after class. Being a bit time pressured, I decided to change my route on the way out of the gym. I normally wash my hands before leaving, but figured I’d head home quickly and get ready there so I made my way straight to the gates.

The gym where I work out is in a corporate office building with a lovely atrium over the stairs. When the gym was renovated recently, they built glass walls around the atrium to preserve light (which I love). The shortest way to leave the gym is around the atrium and through the cardio area to the entrance gates. I came down this wide hallway, narrowed by the recent placement of exercise balls (storage always seems to be a challenge in the gym, but that’s another story).

I could see the gates right in front of me and walked purposefully towards them. Head up, not texting, not distracted by something at my side, eyes forward. In fact, eyes forward gazing directly at the parking ticket machine into which I needed to put my receipt. The only thing is, I forgot to take the sharp left, through the too narrower passageway that actually gets you there.

Instead, I tried to come through this “wall”.

I hit the glass so hard, it shook and triggered the alarm which immediately called the police. I dropped to the ground, my nose bleeding.

While getting cleaned up and speaking with the police (who were definitely amused), I learned that I am not the only one to have made this mistake. At least five other people had walked into the same wall.

Wait, what? They knew this and nothing was done?

One of the concepts Don talked about was that accidents happen, but often not why you think they do. Often design plays a part in guiding a person to move a certain way.

If you notice the floor, the edges of the hallway are marked on the left side. Today, the hallway no longer goes that way. The dark line is a subtle cue to guide you in that directly. With the renovation, this wasn’t updated. Glass walls block the commercial-sized hallway, and you must rather travel through a residential-sized passageway into the cardio area to get to the gates. So why write about this?

I am suggesting a few things, all of which could have been avoided, combined into a rather unfortunate experience for my nose this morning. And when something goes wrong, it’s always worth learning from. Here they are, not necessarily in order of importance:

1. Lack of time

2. Lack of rest

3. Change of routine

4. Poor design

This brings me right back to Don’s presentation and the concept he shares on page 14 of his book. Don created the term “signifiers” for communicating “where the action should take place”. We count on cues to tell us how to use things – whether to push or pull on a door, for example. Signifiers are important for the clear-minded, well-rested folks among us, but even more important for the sleep-deprived, distracted, crew that abounds.

I can find many other examples where errors have emerged because of time pressures and changes in routine. I have already blogged about two examples. “Losing” my car and the unfortunate occurrence of forgetting a child in the car [both of which I will be reposting soon]. Don’s book is full of design examples, and Arianna’s book starts off talking about accidents due to lack of sleep.

What have you noticed? What have you learned? What can you share with us? On my to-do list for tomorrow – buy flowers as a thank you to the staff who took care of me this morning. I am praying there is no video to go viral.

UPDATE – March 26, 2015

I pursued getting the problem fixed and asked Goodlife to etch the glass so no one would miss seeing it in future. t took almost a year, but I’m happy to say that pursuing this safety improvement paid off.

Spring Clearing Series – How Oral Care Relates to Productivity, and vice versa

Colgate Total toothpaste, toothbrush — Make time to take care of your whole mouth – a gateway to good health.

I had the pleasure of touring to a few cities in Canada this spring to share ways to be more productive this season. Not only do we need to think about being productive in how we accomplish what we want to do, it pays to find solutions which are as effective and efficient as possible. I gathered a few ideas which provide one-stop shopping or deliver complete solutions for you, and in the next five blog posts, I’ll share the benefits of each one.

In my Productivity model, Productivity CPR™, the P stands for Performance which is all about taking care of the human animal that is you.

According to the Mayo Clinic, your oral health can affect your overall health and among other consequences may contribute to cardiovascular disease and, in pregnancy, may even lead to premature deliveries and low birth weights.

We know that regular flossing and brushing are a necessary part of maintaining good oral hygiene. But there’s more to think about.

Staying mindful and paying proper attention when you brush can make a difference to the effectiveness of your efforts and pay back with more comfortable visits to the dentist! Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Duration

Spend two minutes brushing your teeth. Set a timer if you think you’re not spending enough time. I tend to walk around while I’m brushing my teeth…it makes the time go by in a more interesting way. Or choose a favourite song as a tooth brushing anthem and get your groove on while you’re brushing!

2. Coverage

It’s important to brush each side of your teeth with equal attention. I spoke with an endodontist recently who recommended that if you’re right-handed, to pay more attention to how you brush the teeth on the right side of your mouth. And vice versa. Because of ergonomics, you might be naturally giving some areas of your mouth less attention than they deserve. Consider switching hands when you switch the sides of your mouth you’re brushing to always be brushing the opposite side.

3. Intensity

Be careful not to brush too hard to avoid abrasion of both the enamel and the gums. ¹ Stay conscious of the pressure. This can also be helped by brushing with your non-dominant hand. If you’re using an electric toothbrush, listen to the sound of the motor as it will change with increased pressure. Use the sounds a guide to ensure you’re brushing with a light enough touch.

4. Feature-rich Toothpaste

Colgate Total has been around for over 20 years now and recently updated their formula to include even more benefits for your whole mouth – teeth, cheeks, gums and tongue. The new Colgate Total formula fights bacteria to keep breath fresh, reduces plaque, and fights tarter and gingivitis. It also strengthens enamel, fights cavities, and builds a protective layer over sensitive areas of teeth while delivering stain reduction and prevention.

5. Floss

For my entire life, I’ve been an inconsistent flosser. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, I am not alone. Only 28% of Canadians floss at least 5 times a week versus 73% who brush twice a day.² I remember my dentist trying to motivate me as a teenager, telling me he would take pictures of my teeth if I flossed. I have been blessed with Class 1 occlusion, otherwise known as “perfect bite”, which naturally makes for great pics. Unfortunately, his invitation did not motivate me in the slightest!

For me, the trick to flossing regularly is to keep the floss visible and make it more comfortable to use. Good thing there are new products available which are eco-friendly and pretty on the countertop.

6. Portable Picks

I carry a small case of toothpicks with me in my Personal Care Kit to handle the urgent feeling that comes with any morsel of food jammed between my teeth, which proves to be a huge distraction.

Sources:

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/tooth-enamel-repair-approaches-0915

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/reports-publications/oral-health/canadian-health-measures-survey.html

I work with organizations to deliver sustainable performance. If you know of a forward-thinking company who wants to achieve objectives and help their leaders and teams avoid disengagement and burnout, we should talk.

Book a Discovery Call to learn more about a range of engaging talks and effective coaching.

Facing Fall – Seven strategies to boost your energy for the “Dark Half”

I know fall has technically just started, but I’m feeling it full force in the mornings. We are entering the dark half of the year, when light levels are lowest north of the equator. Light levels affect our melatonin production. In darkness, we produce more, making us sluggish and sleepy. It’s harder to get up, and once home at the end of the day, harder to go out.

When I worked in a corporate cubicle and travelled there by subway, I used to feel anxiety about the impending change of seasons as early as July 31st. Can you relate to what I’m talking about? I was never diagnosed, but I figured I had a solid case of SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. In the mid-90’s, November in Toronto was in various shades of sombre gray – the depressing, not titillating kind. I committed to leaving the city, which I did for nine years.

During that time I was able to shift to work from home in a light-filled space, and with more flexibility in schedule to get outside in natural light, I now have nowhere near the anxiety I used to fear. It hasn’t turned into a love of winter, but I’m now able to appreciate the sun bouncing off the snow and the afternoon glow that penetrates further into my office.

1. Get enough sleep

Most people need between 7 and 9 hours per night. If you’re like me and suffer from “just one more thing” syndrome which prevents you from getting to bed early enough, consider setting an alarm for “bedtime”. With enough sleep and a consistent routine, you will likely not need a wake-up alarm in the morning. Here’s what the National Sleep Foundation has to say about how much sleep is ideal.

2. Spend time outside each day

If it’s not your natural urge to be outside in cold weather, you’ll want to find ways to boost your exposure to daylight. Walk part of the way to work, take part in an outdoor winter sport, park a little further from the mall entrance. If that’s difficult, consider using a now-widely available light lamp to amp up (ooh, catch that?) the quality and number of rays you’re receiving. If you’re considering purchasing one, you’ll want to read this list of things to consider.

3. Respect your energy levels

It takes more time and energy just getting around in cold winter, so it pays to be more selective in what you choose to invest your time and energy. I will be cutting back on activities which take me out in the evening when I would rather be winding down the day.

4. Supplement your Vitamin D

Even with natural light and a healthy diet, you are likely not getting enough Vitamin D, a key ingredient for our bodies for fighting inflammation and for repair. In fact, since the precursor to Vitamin D is synthesized on your skin, which requires your skin to be exposed to the sun when it is higher than 31.5 degrees in the sky (according to Dr. Michael Hollick), you can’t make it yourself in a good chunk of the year. Here is a guide to recommended dosing from the Mayo Clinic.

5. Limit carbohydrates and sugar

Watch the ratio of carbs to other foods. Carbs can make you sleepy and prone to talking yourself out of the exercise that will boost your endorphins and therefore your energy.

6. Dress warmly

It took moving to Montreal for me to concede that it was better to dress warmly than try to stay stylish in the cold. Good thing that coincided with the advent of down coats becoming fashionable and affordable, though I confess to having started with head-to-toe sheepskin. I had to wait for a bus to work, and nothing blocked the wind like that coat. If you are feeling cold, your body is under stress, you think less clearly and are ultimately less productive, never mind the fact feeling frozen is horribly uncomfortable.

7. Incorporate colour

Checking out stores for fall clothing and you’ll see the palette is decidedly more sombre, but who says your wardrobe has to be? I’ve had persimmon orange and radiant orchid down coats and I swear they energize not only me, but the people I meet. It’s as if your clothes are smiling. If you have a dark winter coat, add some pizzazz with a bright scarf and toque!

How do you keep your spirits up through fall and winter? I’d love to hear what you do.

Note: The information on this site is offered as an information resource only. It should not be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

This post was originally published on www.streamlife.ca and has been updated.

Walking Into a Glass Wall and Why I Can Point a Finger at Poor Design

1. Lack of time

2. Lack of rest

3. Change of routine

4. Poor design