An ER doctor on triaging your "crazy busy" life | Darria Long

Summary

In this talk, an ER doctor explains why using the term 'crazy busy' hinders our ability to manage stress and suggests adopting a 'Ready Mode' instead. In Crazy Mode, we react to everything as urgent, increasing stress and diminishing decision-making abilities. By triaging tasks, planning ahead, and focusing on what truly matters, we can handle busyness effectively. The speaker shares personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of compassion and focus during stressful situations. Ultimately, she encourages us to own our busy lives without letting chaos take over.

Takeaways

• ✋ Stop using 'crazy busy' to describe your day, as it impairs your ability to handle stress effectively.
• 🧠 In 'Crazy Busy Mode,' stress hormones rise, executive function declines, and areas for anger and anxiety are activated.
• 🏥 'Ready Mode' is what emergency rooms use to handle stress and chaos effectively, prioritizing what's most urgent.
• 🚦 Triage your tasks: Red (immediate), Yellow (serious but not urgent), Green (minor), and Black (unfixable or not worth doing).
• 🎯 Focus on your 'reds' — the tasks that move the needle, and avoid getting distracted by non-urgent matters.
• 🔄 Reduce daily decisions by planning, automating, colocating, and designing tasks for ease and efficiency.
• 💡 Design your environment to make better decisions easier and to minimize temptations that drain willpower.
• 👥 Shift focus from internal fear or stress to the needs of others in order to disrupt negative self-talk and tunnel vision.
• ❤️ Compassion primes the brain for better decision-making by widening perception and showing more possibilities.
• 🚑 Move from 'Crazy Mode' to 'Ready Mode' to handle stress effectively, inspire others, and set an example of calm efficiency.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main argument regarding the phrase 'crazy busy'?

The speaker argues that using the phrase 'crazy busy' harms our ability to handle stress effectively, as it puts us into a reactive, less capable state of mind. Instead, the speaker suggests we adopt 'Ready Mode' to better manage busyness and stress.

What are the effects of being in 'Crazy Busy Mode' according to the speaker?

In 'Crazy Busy Mode,' stress hormones rise, executive function declines, memory and judgment deteriorate, impulse control weakens, and areas of the brain related to anxiety and anger are activated. This makes it harder to manage tasks effectively.

What does the speaker mean by 'Ready Mode'?

'Ready Mode' is a mental state where individuals are prepared to handle challenges in a calm, organized manner. In this mode, people can triage tasks based on urgency and focus on what's most important without feeling overwhelmed.

How does the concept of triage apply to managing stress in daily life?

Triage involves prioritizing tasks based on their urgency, similar to how it's done in the ER. Red tasks are immediately critical, yellow tasks are serious but not urgent, and green tasks are minor. The speaker encourages people to focus on their 'red' tasks and avoid getting distracted by less important tasks.

What is the significance of the 'black' triage level in personal life?

The 'black' level refers to tasks or commitments that need to be let go because they can't be effectively managed or accomplished. The speaker emphasizes that by removing these from your list, you can focus on saving your 'reds'—the most important tasks.

Why does the speaker suggest designing your environment to reduce decisions?

The speaker points out that making too many decisions exhausts the brain, leading to poor judgment and decision fatigue. By designing systems (like meal planning, automation, and colocating tools) that reduce daily decisions, you conserve mental energy for more important tasks.

What are some specific strategies the speaker recommends for reducing daily decisions?

The speaker recommends planning meals for the week in advance, automating recurring tasks, colocating items needed for activities, and designing environments to reduce temptations (e.g., storing unhealthy snacks out of reach).

How does focusing on others help the speaker get out of her head in stressful situations?

By focusing on the needs of others, the speaker is able to disrupt her internal monologue and reduce feelings of fear or stress. Research shows that this compassion-based approach helps the brain widen its perception, allowing for better decision-making in challenging situations.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate how she stayed in 'Ready Mode' during a stressful situation?

The speaker shares a story of delivering a baby in an ER while the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. Despite being scared, she focused on the needs of the mother and baby, staying calm and successfully resolving the situation.

What is the overall message the speaker wants the audience to take away?

The speaker's overall message is that while everyone experiences busy and stressful times, labeling it as 'crazy busy' limits our ability to cope. By adopting strategies like triage, designing for efficiency, and focusing on others, we can manage stress effectively and move from 'Crazy Mode' to 'Ready Mode.'