Two recent studies that have nothing to do with community foundations caught my attention this week. The first told me that a neurochemical shift happens in your brain when you say “DONE” at the end of even the smallest tasks.
So telling yourself that you are “done” creates both an emotional and a physiological response as well. That means you can get more accomplished on your to-do list! This is exactly what I need. I have been practicing this – and it seems to be working on those tasks that you can actually complete, like writing a blog, or sending a thank-you note, or reviewing grants or arguing with your daughter.
At issue is the nature of our work here at NCCF, however. Rarely are we ever “done.” Our work with donors and grantees is an ongoing process, and one that we learn more about with each interaction. As a community foundation our funds operate in perpetuity, so that really takes the “doneness” out of a project.
The other study completed at Duke will be published soon.This study involved lemurs, specifically those the size of squirrels.Two interesting pieces of information: lemurs can shut down their metabolic process. It is called “heterothermy,” and this translates (loosely as I am not a scientist) into those that hibernate will live longer.This is exciting because it might possibly be useful in the future for studying the potential for human hibernation.
Count me in on this one.
{"title":"I think I would rather nap","content":"<p>Two recent studies that have nothing to do with community foundations caught my attention this week. The first told me that a neurochemical shift happens in your brain when you say “DONE” at the end of even the smallest tasks.  <\/p>\r\n<p>So telling yourself that you are “done” creates both an emotional and a physiological response as well. That means you can get more accomplished on your to-do list! This is <em>exactly<\/em> what I need. I have been practicing this – and it seems to be working on those tasks that you can actually complete, like writing a blog, or sending a thank-you note, or reviewing grants or arguing with your daughter.   <\/p>\r\n<p>At issue is the nature of our work here at NCCF, however. Rarely are we ever “done.”  Our work with donors and grantees is an ongoing process, and one that we learn more about with each interaction. As a community foundation our funds operate in perpetuity, so that really takes the “doneness” out of a project.    <\/p>\r\n<p>The other study completed at Duke will be published soon.This study involved lemurs, specifically those the size of squirrels.Two interesting pieces of information: lemurs can shut down their metabolic process. It is called “heterothermy,” and this translates (loosely as I am not a scientist) into those that hibernate will live longer.This is exciting because it might possibly be useful in the future for studying the potential for human hibernation. <\/p>\r\n<p>Count me in on this one.<\/p>","excerpt":"<p>NCCF CEO Jennifer Tolle Whiteside does not get to declare she is \"done\" with many tasks but has found a couple of ways to be more productive!<\/p>","url":"\/blog\/i-think-i-would-rather-nap","publishedAt":1428504409,"media":0,"enableComments":false,"inMenu":false,"meta":null,"ordinal":0,"orderChildrenBy":"","id":"fb080d839b924e4c9c49d0bfa2bf1856","parent":"e76aa785e2f140b6a8bdcb322b91b397","node":16912,"created":1533183560,"modified":1533183560,"fresh":1,"type":"post","children":{},"relations":{},"permission":"read"}