Author: Patrice Powers-Barker

Intentional Annual Work Plan for Extension Professionals

Recommendation: Before creating next year’s work plan start with our colleague Shannon Carter’s work on purpose and priorities at:  https://u.osu.edu/carter.413/managing-priorities/

Other helpful links, specific to OSU Extension professionals that align with this workshop:

Workshop Presenters: Melissa J. Rupp and Patrice Powers-Barker

Description: Is your calendar a chaotic whirlwind of activity and deadlines? Extension offers some of the most autonomous, exciting, professional interest and community driven-careers. Designing and driving your goals effectively within the annual calendar can be challenging. Being intentional with your work plan can help ensure that your professional goals, community needs, and alignment with your work teams and partners across the state will create success. Use hands-on tools at this day long workshop to design and follow your annual calendar with intention, direction, focus, and clarity for decision making.

PowerPoint: OSUE Intentional Annual Work Plan and Calendar Mapping

Handouts:

Additional handouts on related topics:

Links for Time Management Techniques:

 

References:

Atlassian. (2022, January 13) 7 productivity methods: which one’s just right for you? Retrieved October 2, 2025, from www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/7-productivity-methods

(2019, October 3). 9 Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools | USAHS. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/

Carter, S. (2023, January 17). Winter Wellness. Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://u.osu.edu/livehealthyosu/2023/01/17/winter-wellness/

Cloyd, S. (n.d.). Productivity: The Time Chunking Method. Rhodes College. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://sites.rhodes.edu/academic-and-learning-resources/news/productivity-time-chunking-method

Eastern Washington University (n.d.). Goal Setting. CALE Learning Enhancement. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://inside.ewu.edu/calelearning/psychological-skills/goal-setting/

Gibson, J., Gkaliamoutsas, S., & Stasinou, T. (2025).  The art of saying no: Reclaiming your time and productivity. Journal of Clinical Urology. 2025;18(4):271-275. doi:10.1177/20514158251343414

Harder, A. & Narine, L. (2020). Personal Health, Role, and Time Management Competency Training Needs of Extension Agents in Florida.  The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.19

Lobb, J. (2019, March 14). Need an Energy Boost? Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://livehealthyosu.com/2019/03/14/need-an-energy-boost/

Lokenauth, A. (n.d.) Productivity Cheat Sheet. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/business-infographics_productivity-cheat-sheet-credits-to-andrew-activity-7176277064835096579-PftG

Nine Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools. University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/

Oppong, T. (2022, July 22). The Purpose-Driven Approach to Getting One Thing Done Faster. Medium. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://thomas-oppong.medium.com/purpose-driven-productivity-17670b5345ab

Powers-Barker, P. (2021, November 15). Now and Later: The Paradox of Living in the Moment and Planning for the Future. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/11/15/now-and-later-the-paradox-of-living-in-the-moment-and-planning-for-the-future/

Russell, M. B., Attoh, P. A., Chase, T., Gong, T., Kim, J., & Liggans, G. L. (2019). Burnout and Extension Educators: Where We Are and Implications for Future Research. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.54718/SFPK7165

Russell, M. B., & Liggans, G. L. (2020). Burnout: Examining the Effects of Job Characteristics Across Extension Disciplines. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.20

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (n.d.). Distractions. The Learning Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/

Time Management: Time Waster Survey. Murry State College. Tishomingo, OK. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://archive.mscok.edu/Content/Uploads/Murray%20State%20College/files/Academic%20Coaching/Time%20Waster%20Survey.pdf

Western Oregon University (n.d.). Finding Purpose. Student Health and Counseling Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://wou.edu/health/resources/student-health-101/spiritual-wellness/finding-purpose/

Manage Your Spark to Ignite Your Passion and Power Your Potential

2025 NEAFCS Annual Session

October 20-23, 2025 ~ Grand Rapids, MI

Join us as we SPARK connections, SPARK innovations, SPARK communities, and SPARK growth. #NEAFCS2025

The Central Region invites you to ignite your SPARK at NEAFCS 2025 Annual Session in Grand Rapids. We want annual session participants to illuminate connections with each other, burn with innovative ideas, radiate passion into your communities and shine bright with personal and professional growth.

Manage Your Spark to Ignite Your Passion and Power Your Potential

Presenters:

Shannon Carter, MS, Assistant Professor,​ carter.413@osu.edu ​

​Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, ​powers-barker.1@osu.edu ​

​Melissa J. Rupp, AFC®, Assistant Professor, ​rupp.26@osu.edu

Content from session:

Time Management Resources:

For your work plan, recommended supplies:

  • Your data
  • Hard copy, monthly calendar for upcoming years such as https://www.calendar-12.com/printable_calendar/2025 
  • Pens, markers, post-it notes, dry erase board and/or poster sized paper to write on, worksheets, other planning tools
  • Copy of organization(s) mission and vision. For example, our Extension mission and vision but also others such as a professional organization or your personal list of values.
  • Your “reward” – how will you make this important task as enjoyable as possible? Partners? Lunch break at a favorite restaurant?

References:

Atlassian. (2022, January 13) 7 productivity methods: which one’s just right for you? Retrieved October 2, 2025, from www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/7-productivity-methods  ​

(2019, October 3). 9 Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools | USAHS. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/

Carter, S. (2023, January 17). Winter Wellness. Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://u.osu.edu/livehealthyosu/2023/01/17/winter-wellness/

Cloyd, S. (n.d.). Productivity: The Time Chunking Method. Rhodes College. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://sites.rhodes.edu/academic-and-learning-resources/news/productivity-time-chunking-method

Eastern Washington University (n.d.). Goal Setting. CALE Learning Enhancement. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://inside.ewu.edu/calelearning/psychological-skills/goal-setting/

Harder, A. & Narine, L. (2020). Personal Health, Role, and Time Management Competency Training Needs of Extension Agents in Florida. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.19

Lobb, J. (2019, March 14). Need an Energy Boost? Live Healthy Live Well. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://livehealthyosu.com/2019/03/14/need-an-energy-boost/

Lokenauth, A. (n.d.) Productivity Cheat Sheet. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/business-infographics_productivity-cheat-sheet-credits-to-andrew-activity-7176277064835096579-PftG ​

Nine Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools. University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/

Oppong, T. (2022, July 22). The Purpose-Driven Approach to Getting One Thing Done Faster. Medium. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://thomas-oppong.medium.com/purpose-driven-productivity-17670b5345ab

Powers-Barker, P. (2021, November 15). Now and Later: The Paradox of Living in the Moment and Planning for the Future. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/11/15/now-and-later-the-paradox-of-living-in-the-moment-and-planning-for-the-future/

Russell, M. B., Attoh, P. A., Chase, T., Gong, T., Kim, J., & Liggans, G. L. (2019). Burnout and Extension Educators: Where We Are and Implications for Future Research. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.54718/SFPK7165

Russell, M. B., & Liggans, G. L. (2020). Burnout: Examining the Effects of Job Characteristics Across Extension Disciplines. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.20 ​

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (n.d.). Distractions. The Learning Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/take-charge-of-distractions/

Time Management: Time Waster Survey. Murry State College. Tishomingo, OK. Retrieved October 2, 2025 from https://archive.mscok.edu/Content/Uploads/Murray%20State%20College/files/Academic%20Coaching/Time%20Waster%20Survey.pdf

Western Oregon University (n.d.). Finding Purpose. Student Health and Counseling Center. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://wou.edu/health/resources/student-health-101/spiritual-wellness/finding-purpose/

 

How to Notice Nature Using Mindfulness Techniques

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Lucas County and Wood County Master Gardener Volunteers are hosting Noticing Nature at the Toledo Botanical Garden Metropark, Toledo, Ohio. They invite us to, “Take a day to pause, learn, and connect with the beauty of the natural world while we explore how mindful choices can make a meaningful difference – for the environment and for you as a gardener”.

This page has links to examples, resources and references as you create you own Mindfulness Toolkit. If you have questions about mindfulness, please email Patrice Powers-Barker at the Lucas County office, powers-barker.1@osu.edu

Toolkit (pdf): How to Notice Nature Using Mindfulness Techniques – a Toolkit

PowerPoint: Notice Nature Using Mindfulness Techniques

If you’d like to learn more about different mindfulness practices, the OSU Extension Mindful Wellness team shares:

sunset picture

picture forest

References from Presentation and Toolkit:

Bergstrom. C. (2017). Three Senses Mindfulness Activity for Kids, Teens and Grown-ups. https://blissfulkids.com/three-senses-mindfulness-activity-kids-teens-grown-ups/

Boggs, J. (2025). Our All-American Lotus. Buckeye Yard and Garden Online. https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/2535

Branstrom, I. (2020). Smart Gardening: Integrated pest management in vegetable gardens. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/ipm_smart_pest_management_for_the_vegetable_garden

Eight Surprising health benefits of gardening. UNC Health Talk. (2020). https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/health-benefits-of-gardening/

Fuller, J. L., & Fitter, E. A. (2020). Mindful Parenting: A Behavioral Tool for Parent Well-Being. Behavior analysis in practice, 13(4), 767–
771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00447-6

Gibb, T. (2022). Picture of the week: Good luck or bad luck? https://ag.purdue.edu/department/btny/ppdl/potw-dept-folder/2022/tomato-hornworm.html

Labyrinth locator. (2024). The Labyrinth Society & Veriditas. https://labyrinthlocator.org/

Nature Matters. (2025). The Ohio State University. https://warren.osu.edu/program-areas/family-and-consumer-sciences/healthy-people/nature-matters

Powers-Barker, P. (2025). Introduction to mindfulness. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5243

Powers-Barker, P. (2024). Life is a journey, so is a labyrinth. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/life-is-a-journey-so-is-a-labyrinth/

Stanton, L. (2024). Seeking awe in nature. https://u.osu.edu/livehealthyosu/2024/05/15/seeking-awe-in-nature/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add Mindfulness to Your Garden Toolkit

Botanica, Gardening for the Mind, Body and Spirit

Stark County Master Gardener Volunteer Program, Saturday, September 27, 2025

Keynote: Life Lessons from the Garden for Mind, Body and Spirit. Discover how gardening nurtures not only flowers and food, but also a healthy, joyful life. Understand how the science of the brain, mindfulness and sensory experiences support overall wellness.

outdoor sign for Botanica event

flowers in vase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handout: Life Lessons from the Garden for Mind, Body & Spirit Handout

PowerPoint: Gardening for Mind, Body, and Spirit Presentation

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources from presentation:

References from presentation:

In addition to the resources listed above, a few more references that were used for this presentation

Boggs, J. (2025). Our All-American Lotus. Buckeye Yard and Garden Online. https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/2535

Community Gardens plant seeds for healthy nutrition, healthy life. (2024). Ohio Department of Health. https://odh.ohio.gov/media-center/feature-stories/march-is-national-nutrition-month

Eight Surprising health benefits of gardening. UNC Health Talk. (2020). https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/health-benefits-of-gardening/

Fisch, Verena. (2023). Beyond the human – Garden communities in community gardens. Social Work & Society. 21. https://ejournals.bib.uni-wuppertal.de/index.php/sws/article/view/840

Gries, A. (2021). The miracle of the lotus flower. https://awakeningshealth.com/2021/09/08/the-miracle-of-the-lotus-flower/

Smart Gardening: Integrated pest management in vegetable gardens, Michigan State University Extension, https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/uploads/files/IPMgarden-2020-web.pdf

Stanton, L. (2024). Seeking awe in nature. https://u.osu.edu/livehealthyosu/2024/05/15/seeking-awe-in-nature/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passport to Retirement: Charting Your Own Course

Passport to Retirement: Charting Your Own Course on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at Maumee Senior Center

 

Short description: The journey through retirement is different for everyone but there are some common elements to consider steering you towards success and satisfaction.

Presented by: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension, Lucas County, email powers-barker.1@osu.edu

Resources from presentation:

Wellness Wheel Worksheet Self Assessment & Action Plan

  • Name the present, look forward to the future – Rose, Thorn, and Bud
  • Use your data and your dreams
  • Connect with others and utilize resources

Handout:  Charting Course_Handout_2025

Additional articles:

OSU Extension, Lucas County:

References:

  • Gonzalez, A. (2018, May 24). A mindful way to reflect: Rose, thorn, and bud. Mindful Schools. https://www.mindfulschools.org/
  • Kumar, A., Killingsworth, M., and Gilovich, T. (2014, August 21). Waiting for merlot: Anticipatory consumption of experiential and material purchases. Psychological Science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614546556
  • Lieberman, M., Eisenberger, N., Crockett, M., Tom, S., Pfeifer, S., and Way, B. (2007). Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity in response to affective stimuli. Psychological Science. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17576282
  • Mirgain, S. (2020, April 7). The surprising benefit of going through difficult times. UW School of Medicine and Public Health. https://www.uwhealth.org/news/surprising-benefit-going-through-difficult-times
  • NCFR Report: Non Normative Transitions, Winter, 2019, National Council on Family Relations, https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/winter-2019
  • Neff, K., Rude, S., & Kirkpatrick, K. (2007). An examination of self-compassion in relation to positive psychological functioning and personality traits. Journal of Research in Personality. Volume 41: 908-916.
  • Polk, M.G., Smith, E.L., Zhang, L.-R., & Neupert, S.D. (2020). Thinking ahead and staying in the present: Implications for reactivity to daily stressors. Personality and Individual Differences.
  • Praharso, N., Tear, M., Cruwys, T. (2017). Stressful life transitions and wellbeing: A comparison of the stress buffering hypothesis and the social identity model of identity change. Psychiatry Research. Volume 247: 265-275
  • Manage Stress: Strengthen Your Support Network. (2024). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/manage-social-support
  • Wellness Wheel Worksheet, Work Week, NYC, https://www.nyc.gov/assets/olr/downloads/pdf/wellness/wellnesswheelworksheet.pdf
  • Your Wellness Wheel, J. Flowers Health Institute, https://jflowershealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/jflowershealth.com_wellness_wheel_worksheet.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Labyrinth Day

 

World Labyrinth Day (WLD) is an annual event sponsored by The Labyrinth Society (TLS). Every year on the first Saturday in May thousands of people around the world participate in this moving meditation for world peace.

They encourage us to join people around the world in this moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience! We will be offering a local, temporary labyrinth to walk in 2025 in collaboration with the annual Toledo Plant Exchange. (For more information on Toledo Plant Exchange, visit their Facebook page)

Date: World Labyrinth Day, Saturday, May 3rd, 2025

Lucas County Location: Lucas County Fair Grounds, 1406 Key Street, Maumee, Ohio, 43537. (Use the main gate entrance. The plant exchange and informational booths will be inside the green Arts & Crafts Building. Weather permitting, the temporary labyrinth will be outside of the building).

Time: the labyrinth will be in place from 8:30 – 11:00am.  Specific times for the Toledo Plant Exchange (see image below)

  • 8:30 – 10:00am Plant Drop Off
  • 9:00 – 9:50am Informational Booths (One of the informational booths/table will be about WLD)
  • 10:00 – 11:00am Plant Distribution (event may end early if all plants are gone)

The Plant Exchange will be complete that morning so if anyone is interested in walking a labyrinth at 1:00pm as part of the WLD tradition, we recommend a beautiful, permanent labyrinth, just across the Maumee River at the Norma Stark Memory Garden and Labyrinth in Perrysburg, Ohio.

New to labyrinths? Read Life is a Journey. So is a Labyrinth, 2023 blog by Patrice.

Labyrinth Handout with handheld finger labyrinth

The Labyrinth Society (also linked above) is a great resource to learn about labyrinths as well as to use their  World-Wide Labyrinth Locator where you can search over 6,500 labyrinths in 90 different countries around the world!

 

Financial Wellness for EPHAC

Financial education across the lifespan with Ohio State University Extension

This presentation shares some of the OSU Extension, FCS financial education resources from Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) to Extension Public Health AmeriCorps (EPHAC)

icon of woman and man holding fists in air similar to Rosie the Riveter to promote American volunteers and hard work

EPHAC members: please share resources with local partners and please use whatever materials are most useful to you personally. For example, I wrote a blog about the six-lesson Manage Your Money program, titled Why I am Bringing Work Home related to a six-week financial education email program many years ago! The main point is: “The risk …..is that it looks like we’ve got it all together!  We don’t have it all together, but as we work on areas where we need to improve, we will not forget to applaud the past choices and decisions where we got it right. Even for individuals and couples who have extensive experience and success with a household budget, it’s always a good idea to do a regular review, especially when there are changes in who is living in the house or with income or expenses.”

Contact Information: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), powers-barker.1@osu.edu

PowerPoint from webinar: EPHAC_financial_2025

“To personalize your financial plan, you need your own data. Invest the time now for a better payoff later” Manage Your Money, OSU Extension

Resources (links) shared in the presentation:

 

 

National and State Partners:

 

References: 

Arah, O., A., (2009). On the relationship between individual and population health. Med Health and Care Philos. 12:235:244. doi: 10.1007/s11019-008-9173-8.

Bartholomae, S., Kiss, D. E., & Pippidis, M. (2024). Documenting Cooperative Extension’s family resource management impacts: Insights and outcomes from a national effort. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 12(2), 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55533/2325-5226.1434

Housing Counseling through Cooperative Extension (2017). The Bridge: The Office of Housing Counseling Newsletter. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. VOLUME 5, ISSUE 9 MARCH 2017  https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/OHC_BRIDGE033017.PDF

Loibl, C., Durhan, J., and Moulton, S. (2018). Rich Opportunities from Collaboration with a State Housing Finance Agency. Journal of Extension. v56-7 iw5. https://open.clemson.edu/joe/vol56/iss7/16/

Rupp, M., J., and Powers-Barker, P. (2024). Homebuyer Education: Individualized financial education during a major life purchase at AFCPE Symposium 2024. go.osu.edu/afcpehomebuyer

Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being. (2025). The Ripple Foundation. https://rippel.org/vital-conditions/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness Practices for Group Leaders and Your Group

As a leader, you can discover your own favorite mindfulness routine!

Happify Video: Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower: An Animation. Narrated by Dan Harris, Animation by Katy Davis, (less than 3 minutes) December 2015

If you are new to mindfulness our would like to try some new exercises, visit this blog for links to free, online guided practices that are all 10 minutes or less. A Day of Mini Mindfulness Practices:  go.osu.edu/dailymindfulness

If you liked the Mindful S.T.O.P. or 5-3-1, you might like some additional Mindful Numbers and Acronyms

If you would like to read more, Introduction to Mindfulness (2025) is an OSU Extension Factsheet.

As a leader, you can discover your own favorite mindfulness routine. You can also teach these to your group. Mindfulness Practices for Individuals and Groups Handout with basic descriptions of seven mindful practices.

For questions about mindfulness lessons in Lucas County, please contact Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Family and Consumer Sciences  powers-barker.1@osu.edu 

References:

Bergstrom, C. (2017). Three Senses Mindfulness Activity for Kids, Teens and Grown-ups. https://blissfulkids.com/three-senses-mindfulness-activity-kids-teens-grown-ups/

Duncan, L. G., Coatsworth, J. D., & Greenberg, M. T. (2009). A model of mindful parenting: implications AR5for parent-child relationships and prevention research. Clinical child and family psychology review, 12(3), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-009-0046-3

Fuller, J. L., & Fitter, E. A. (2020). Mindful Parenting: A Behavioral Tool for Parent Well-Being. Behavior analysis in practice, 13(4), 767–771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00447-6

Kumpfer, K., Brown, J. (2011). Strengthening Families Program, Handouts and Worksheets. https://strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/All-SFP_ENGLISH_Handouts_2020-10.pdf   (1-8)

Powers-Barker, P. (2025). Cultivating loving-kindness. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University Extension. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/category/family-and-relationships/

Powers-Barker, P. (2023). Life is a journey. So is a labyrinth. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University Extension. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/life-is-a-journey-so-is-a-labyrinth/ 

Self-Compassion Break, Greater Good in Action, Berkeley, https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/self_compassion_break

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Life Events: Set Yourself Up for Successful Life Transitions

 

Joint CTSO Day at Penta Career Center, Friday, March 21st, 2025

Questions on this presentation: Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County, FCS, powers-barker.1@osu.edu 

From Presentation:

Complementary Handouts and Links

 

References

 

 

 

Your Intentional Annual Work Plan: Creating an Efficient, Effective, and Adaptable Structure to Meet Your Goals

We are the Keys to Extension. Extension Conference, December 10 – 11, 2024. Columbus, Ohio. Breakout Session 4: Wednesday, December 11th, 11:00am – 11:50am.

Is your calendar a chaotic whirlwind of activity and deadlines? OSU Extension offers some of the most autonomous, exciting, professional interest and community driven-careers. Designing and driving your goals effectively within the annual calendar can be challenging. Being intentional with your work plan can help ensure that your professional goals, community needs, and alignment with your work teams and partners across the state will create success. Learn hands-on tools to design and follow your annual calendar with intention, direction, focus, and clarity for decision making. As important as all of the Extension Keys are, we will focus on the key of efficiency, giving you the key to unlocking the work plan that works for you. #ExtensionKeysEfficiency

Presenters:

Patrice Powers-Barker, Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County powers-barker.1@osu.edu

Melissa Rupp, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fulton County rupp.26@osu.edu

Session Handouts:

Time Management Resources:

For your work plan, recommended supplies:

  • Your data
  • Hard copy, monthly calendar for upcoming year such as https://www.calendar-12.com/printable_calendar/2025 
  • Pens, markers, post-it notes, dry erase board and/or poster sized paper to write on, worksheets, other planning tools
  • Copy of organization(s) mission and vision. For example, our Extension mission and vision but also others such as a professional organization or your personal list of values.
  • Your “reward” – how will you make this important task as enjoyable as possible? Partners? Lunch break at a favorite restaurant?

Just for fun – Patrice shared her poster of the iceberg with a Venn Diagram and all the below the surface examples. This link is NOT a time management example, nor will it help you design your work plan but it’s fun to design your own iceberg and watch it float: https://joshdata.me/iceberger.html

References: 

A&P Promotion Instructions for Extension Educators, specifically General Expectations of each Educator Level

Atlassian. (2022) 7 productivity methods: which one’s just right for you? www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/7-productivity-methods

Harder, A. & Narine, L. (2020). Personal Health, Role, and Time Management Competency Training Needs of Extension Agents in Florida. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.19

How a top Harvard Business School Professor Approaches Intention Setting. (2017). Thrive Global Staff. https://community.thriveglobal.com/how-a-top-harvard-business-school-professor-approaches-intention-setting/

Lokenauth, A. (n.d.) Productivity Cheat Sheet. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/business-infographics_productivity-cheat-sheet-credits-to-andrew-activity-7176277064835096579-PftG

Nine Proven Time Management Techniques and Tools. University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences. https://www.usa.edu/blog/time-management-techniques/

Powers-Barker, P. (2021). Now and Later: The paradox of living in the moment and planning for the future. Live Healthy Live Well. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/11/15/now-and-later-the-paradox-of-living-in-the-moment-and-planning-for-the-future/

Russell, M. B., Attoh, P. A., Chase, T., Gong, T., Kim, J., & Liggans, G. L. (2019). Burnout and Extension Educators: Where We Are and Implications for Future Research. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 7(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.54718/SFPK7165

Russell, M. B., & Liggans, G. L. (2020). Burnout: Examining the Effects of Job Characteristics Across Extension Disciplines. The Journal of Extension, 58(1), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.58.01.20