Clare Kumar

Powering Up Productivity & Pleasure

Wellness

Spring Clearing Series – Comfort Drives Productivity – How to Banish Dry Eye

This post is sponsored. As always, all opinions are my own.

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 this “Spring Clearing” series of blog posts, I’ll share the benefits of each one.

In my Productivity CPR™ model, the “P” in CPR stands for Performance which is all about taking care of the human animal that is you. The goal? To preserve your energy and attention so you can bring both to your intentions.

Within Performance, there are eight Productivity Table Stakes™ which need to be present in your life for maximum performance. One is “Comfort”. If you’re not feeling comfortable, it is highly likely your mind is diverting attention to what is irritating you, at least for some of the time. Think of a hot, humid day or sitting in an airplane seat which the small child, or in the case of my last flight, a rather tall man is behind you is constantly poking. Or how about that feeling of having something stuck in your eye?

 

Systane Complete eye drop bottle and box
Systane Complete is the one-stop drop to take care of Dry Eye.

What is Dry Eye?

According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, Dry Eye occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears that your eyes do produce do not have the right chemical composition. Tears are necessary to lubricate the eyes, keeping them comfortable, and maintaining clear vision.  I am one of over 30% of Canadians suffer from Dry Eye, with it affecting more women than men.

 

What causes Dry Eye?

Dry eye can be caused by a number of factors. Here are some of the most common:

  1. Age – as you get older it is natural to produce fewer tears
  2. Environment – smoke, wind and dry climates can trigger greater evaporation of tears
  3. Activities – reading on a screen or watching tv for lengthy periods may result in less blinking
  4. Chemistry – Some medications and hormonal changes may interfere with tear production

 

What are the symptoms of Dry Eye?

For the past few years, I’ve suffered gritty, scratchy eyes and sometimes there’s a burning feeling. I’ve often felt like there was something in my eye. I learned from my optometrist that these are symptoms of Dry Eye. Last year, I also experienced a few minutes of blurry vision a handful of times (which totally freaked me out).  Thankfully my vision corrected on its own after a few minutes, but it always left me with a feeling of worry. I had no idea until recently that blurry vision is also a symptom of Dry Eye. Excessive tearing can also be a natural body response to soothe the irritation.

 

What can you do about dry eye?

A few years ago, my optometrist confirmed I had Dry Eye and recommended I take artificial tears to add lubrication. Since there is more than one kind of dry eye, from not enough tear production to tear evaporation or a mixture of the two, it’s important to have the right drops on hand. Thankfully it’s easier than ever now that Systane Complete, an over-the-counter remedy, is available as it treats all three types. Each drop spreads a mixture of moisture and lipids across the eye in a fast-acting yet long-lasting formula.

In some cases, prescription eye drops may be recommended, or even plugging the tear ducts to prevent tears leaving the eye. Systane Omega-3 Supplements have been proven to help in the prevention and treatment of Dry Eye.  Ignoring Dry Eye could lead to eye infections or tissue damage.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s worth a visit to your optometrist to find the right solution for you.

 

SOURCES

https://cnib.ca/en/sight-loss-info/your-eyes/eye-diseases/dry-eye?region=on

https://opto.ca/health-library/dry-eye

https://eyewire.news/articles/alcon-introduces-systane-complete-solution-for-dry-eye/

 

I work with organizations who want to achieve their objectives and protect their people from disengagement and burnout. It’s all about inspiring leaders and their teams to cultivate sustainable performance.

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

 

Spring Clearing Series – Breathe easier with clean indoor air!

honeywell air purifier
The Honeywell HPA100 True HEPA Air Purifier with Allergen Remover cleans your indoor air which can often be more polluted than the air outside. This post is sponsored by Honeywell. As always, opinions are my own.

I had the pleasure of traveling 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 model for sustainable performance, Productivity CPR™, the P stands for Performance which is all about taking care of the human animal that is you.

 

Because it’s invisible, it’s easy to ignore the air that is all around us, but did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air can often be 2-5 times, more polluted than outdoor air. 1

[Read more…] about Spring Clearing Series – Breathe easier with clean indoor air!

Four Ways to Have a Smooth and Productive Transition into Fall

Clare and Stephanie talking on couch
Stephanie Smyth of CP24 interviews Clare Kumar on getting organized for the fall. Photo: Screen capture of show on CP24

The change of seasons brings a change of schedule and some anxiety for all about how we’re going to manage it.

Watch the video here!

Here are some strategies which may help. If you’ve got others, please add a comment!

  1. Choose your outfit the night before.

It’s often beneficial to separate planning from execution. Planning requires decision making and sometimes problem solving. Execution is about completing tasks you know how to do. Since mornings are often more rushed, take time the evening before to select what you’re going to wear the next day . I check the weather and often plan from footwear up. Layering is your best friend for days which start out cool and warm up, or for transitions between hot weather and cool, air conditioned environments.

 

  1. Fuel up for your day.

Your brain is on average 2% of your body mass, yet consumes about 20% of your energy.1 Tune into what your body seeks to keep thinking clearly.  If you don’t want to eat a full breakfast before you leave for work or school, identify some portable, nutrient rich snacks which you can take with you.  You don’t want to end up depleted during your morning, or worse, “hangry”!

 

You might think caffeine is helping you boost your focus, but recent research suggests that it is simply an alleviation of your body’s craving for the substance. Consider cutting out caffeine to see if your mind is equally sharp without it.

 

  1. Create a task management system.

When schedules change and we take on new challenges, there is often a worry about keeping on top of everything. Because our brains are challenged to remember everything, as Daniel Levitin suggests in his book, “The Organized Mind”, “Writing things down conserves the mental energy expended in worrying that you might forget something and in trying not to forget it.2

 

Having a system that works for you is critical to staying on top of things, and comforting because you know you depend on it. Key elements of a system include a place to gather your intentions – a “to do list”, a calendar to make time less abstract, and notifications to cue your attention.

 

When building your task management system, pay attention to how you like to work. There is no right and wrong between paper and online solutions. What is important is that it is accessible when you need it, easy to interact with, and redundant (possible to recover information if lost).

 

  1. Avoid making a mess.

When arriving home, it’s easy to plop down our backpacks, briefcases, lunch and gym bags, kick off our shoes, throw off our coats, hats and sunglasses and toss our keys.  Generally, though, this approach leads to chaos.  Turn your “drop and dash” into “stop and stash”!

 

To avoid a stressful entry way, make sure every item you come in with has an easy home to land in. Drawers or hooks near the front door for keys. Cubbies or hooks for backpacks. Use a magazine holder for mail and papers parents need to review. Offer a bin per person for accessories.  Unpack your lunch bag and prepare it for its next use right away. This especially important on Friday nights to avoid unpleasant surprises!!

 

Changing behaviours takes time, so a little lot of coaching is likely required of housemates as you adopt the system. Not only with it keep the entryway clear, everyone will know where items are when they’re running out the door!

 

NEW – In recent months I’ve created new workshops which have been well received by clients such as Facebook Canada and Ryerson University. If your organization is looking for an informative, engaging talk on boosting productivity, becoming more organized or better managing work-life integration, please pass on my contact information, or connect us and I’ll be happy to follow up. With many thanks.

 

SOURCES:

  1. Appraising the brain’s energy budget. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
  2. Levitin, D. (2014). The Organized Mind, Allen Lane, Penguin Canada Books

Book a discovery call with Clare? Click here to contact me.

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