My long time friend and colleague in the National Speakers Association, Jeff Davidson, is  author of the new book, Simpler Living: A Back to Basics Guide to Cleaning, Furnishing, Storing, Decluttering, Streamlining, Organizing, and More. Jeff, who holds the registered trademark for “The Work Life Balance Expert,” has been studying the phenomenon of increasing stress and time pressure on individuals since 1988. Back then, he was researching for his book Breathing Space: Living and Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society. This brief interview will introduce you to Jeff and his interesting new book.

Q: Is the world getting more complex or is that simply a perception?

A: Complexity is accelerating. Signs are all around us. People constantly checking their mobile devices. People battling to stay on top of the dozens of emails that can come in on a moment’s notice. All around us, information and communication seem to be tugging for our attention at every turn. In the office, the tasks mount up.

Q: Is life at home as difficult as life at work?

A:  Most people today face more clutter and disorganization at home than at work. Through my research and a series of calculations, I was able to determine that in 1988, in a 24-hour period, more information became newly available on Earth than a person could ingest at normal reading and viewing speed in the next 80 years. The next day, the phenomenon would repeat itself. In other words, in 1988, more than a lifetime’s worth of information became newly available every 24 hours.

 Q: So you’d say it’s worse today by a long shot?

A: Yes. Today, with high-speed Internet connections, Global Positioning Satellite systems, and the myriad of ways by which we can all gather information, more information becomes newly available in less than one second than a person could comfortably ingest in the next 80 years. Said another way, every second, a lifetime’s worth of new information becomes available.

This is not hard to fathom when you count up all of the TV broadcasts around the world, radio broadcasts, information added to Web sites, magazines, newspapers, zines, e-blasts, listservs, newsletters, special bulletins, and what have you, that becomes newly available each second. As such, the term “information explosion,” coined many years ago, no longer adequately describes what any of us face on a given day. There are no words that can capture the essence of how much information rains down upon each of us, all the time, without end.

Q: What does Simpler Living offer that others in the field do not?

A: The book is one of a kind. It is presented in landscape format, as opposed to portrait; in other words, it lays out as a coffee table book, and it appears as a coffee table book. It is 452 pages, but easy to get through because of the two to three pictures per page, totaling more than 1,000! Although the text contains more than 130,000 words, you don’t want to sit down and read it like you would any other book. Rather, I advise flipping through to just a few pages at a time to gain some quick ideas for areas of your life where you may be in need of simplicity.  

The first three chapters of the book offer a walk-through of how society became so complex, along with some antidotes as to keeping your own life simpler. Chapters 4 through 24 represent something not offered in any other book: A room-by-room review of numerous ideas as to what one can do to simplify every part of the household. After finishing all the possible rooms that one might have in a home, Simpler Living then focuses on areas such as health, diet, and nutrition; commuting, travel, and leisure; and managing a home office or traditional office.

Q: Any parting observations?

A: The world is not about to slow down and accommodate any of us. If anything, the pace of life seemingly will increase in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. It’s important for us to establish a framework now for taking back control of our personal environments, so that as we proceed into this brave new world of ever-increasing information and communication reception, we will have the capacity to maintain control. The very good news is that virtually every working adult can do this. By applying simple measures here and there, and recognizing the larger picture of what’s going on around the globe, we can avoid falling into the abyss of hopeless complexity in our lives.”

This is the first in a series of guest blogs I’m calling the “Specialist Series.” I’ve asked some of the brightest people and freshest thinkers to share their expertise on the work they do that is of interest to my readers.

My guest blogger this month is Mary LoVerde, a speaker, author and personal coach on life balance and creating connection. One word I think describes Mary is “vivacious.” Her eyes sparkle, her conversation is uplifting and she continually expresses appreciation for the journey she is taking. She has a background in healthcare but the course of her life changed when she began re-examining her priorities and living her true calling. Like the best experts, she speaks about what she has learned from life experience and practice.

In addition to her work she is a competitive ballroom dancer. She is the mother of three terrific children and has been a long-time and dear friend to Darla and me. I’m pleased she is kicking off this series.

I wanted Mary’s insights because I’ve always been a bit skeptical about life balance as it is traditionally advocated and presented. Mary brings a fresh perspective to a common topic.

Are people still interested in life balance or are the really pursuing something different?

People are more interested than ever before in finding a balance, but in a new way.  In the last decade the idea of work life balance was to get “it” all done.  But of course, many of us have learned the hard way that no one ever gets it all done, though many people literally die trying. I am not against the wonderful strategies of managing, organizing, delegating, prioritizing and simplifying.  Everyone needs to use these.  But I believe that if these strategies were going to balance our lives, they should have worked by now. We are all busier and more stressed as ever.  We do need a new approach to the problem.

So how do you define life balance?

I’ve researched the answer to this question for over 20 years.  My answer boils done to three words:  Connection creates balance. That means connection with yourself, your family, friends, clients, co-workers, the strangers you meet, your community and your God. When we get stressed or feel out of balance it is because we have become disconnected from something that is important to us.  Many of our strategies- for example, going faster or doing two things at once, actually disconnect us.  The old life balance question was, “What do I need to do?”  The answer is a long overwhelming list that often paralyzes us.  The new life balance question is, “With whom shall I connect?”  Sometimes it will be yourself and you shut off the light and go get a good night’s sleep.  Sometimes it will be work, as you pour yourself into an important project. Other times it will be going to the school play, calling a friend to get some good advice or sitting in front of the fire with your spouse and a glass of wine at the end of the day. There is no need to feel guilty for not doing something else.  You are doing exactly what you should be- connecting to keep your balance.

What role does connection play in your work?

Connection is obviously an important business strategy.  Right now, of course, everyone is concerned about the economy.  The concern is justified, but here is what we historically know:  Business comes back.  It’s a cycle and prosperity opportunities return.  We also know historically what may not come back if we do not pay attention to what is really important in our lives:  our health, our marriages/partnerships, our children’s sense of security and our other important relationships.  We like to divide our lives into work and home but the laws of the Universe pay no attention to that division.  If you want to be ready for the economic comeback you need to do what is necessary to stay whole and connected to the reasons why you work in the first place.

What keeps people from connecting?

They have the wrong definition of how to stay in balance. We are rewarded for being overscheduled and overwhelmed.  The more miserable we can make ourselves through sleep deprivation, lack of exercise and a healthy diet,  the more we convince ourselves we are getting closer to balance.  But the benefits of this approach are short-lived.  People need specific strategies, such as pause rituals, innovative ways to connect with their elders, plans on how to keep the romance alive in their relationships, or tapping into what they are passionate about. etc.  We need to shift from the to-do list- which is helpful to organize our thinking- and real connection- which makes our lives richer and more productive.

How would you suggest someone go about improving the quality of his or her life and connections?

Adopt a new motto, “When you can’t keep up: connect.”

Then ask the new question: With whom should I connect? Really listen to the answer.  I offer a free internet show each week with specific ideas on how to stay connected with what is really important.

Go to www.thewinonline.com and find my 3 minute videos on specific strategies.  Or go to www.MaryLoVerde.com.  Or log onto Amazon.com for a listing of my books on innovative ways to stay connected.