"Simplification" – Not Just for the FAFSA Anymore…

Jim EddyOffice of Financial AidUniversity of Michigan – Ann Arborjimeddy@umich.edu

[Subtitled]:

Welcome to the salon!

A Wellness model

The 5 Elements in Chinese Medicine

The 5 Elements in Chinese Medicine

The Basic PremiseWe were promised that technology and progress would improve our lives and lead to more leisure time/less time at work

It has not quite worked out that way…

One prediction made in 1967

“Technology is opening a new world of leisure time. One government report projects that by the year 2000, the United States will have a 30 hour work week and month-long vacations as the rule”

- Walter Cronkite, television news reporter

Another prediction made in 1967“By the year 2000, the average work week will average 31 hours, and perhaps as few as 21. 20 years later, on-the-job hours may have dwindled to 26, or even 16.”

- Sebastian de Grazia, political scientist

Consider this for a moment…

All dependent undergraduate students, as defined by the FAFSA, were born into a world where the Internet has always existed. There are no exceptions.

Thought Experiment #1

* On our own time, our use of social media and connective technology is a choice

* When we’re at work this is not always nearly as true (i.e. email)

* So…what to do?

It's easy to confuse being busy with being productive

If you arrive early, you can still be on time. If you arrive

late, you can’t.

The time thing…

What works for you?

A place for everything, and everything in its

place.

* Most “simplify your life” approaches emphasize the importance of the clutter issue

* Sometimes “clutter” is not so much the issue as is the benefit of having routine storage and retrieval

* Where did I put my (fill in the blank: Keys? Gizmo? Thumb drive? Password? Car?)

We all gotta eat!

Parking, and Walking, and Steps…oh my!

I work, “ergo” I am(Ergonomics at

work)

Thought Experiment #2

Selected Print ResourcesAllen, David: Getting Things Done (2015)

Elgin, Duane: Voluntary Simplicity (2010, 2nd ed.)

Jay, Francine: The Joy of Less (2010)

Newport, Cal: Deep Work – Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (2016)

Rogers, Elizabeth: Shift Your Habit (2010)

Thanks for your participation…Salon is

adjourned!

The 5 Elements in Chinese Medicine