The Choice Is Yours Big decisions don't have to be overwhelming. It's all about how you frame the answers
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LIFE LESSONS
The Choice
Is Yours
Big decisions don’t have to be overwhelming.
It’s all about how you frame the answers
BY CH ANTAL TRANCH E M O NTAGNE
ILLUSTRATION BY JEANNIE PHAN
February•2017 | S1
T H E C H O I C E I S YO U R S READER’S DIGEST
WHEN CONFRONTED with a difficult decision, we can be like deer in some heavy lifting to do. There has Becker, Gyro’s CEO. “It’s underscored
headlights: dazed and unable to choose a direction. Should you been a surge of insight into the field of by a rational structure, but emotion
start your own company or stay in your current job? Pick investment emotional/instinctual/intuitive deci- has to lead.”
sion-making, yet you should still start
A over investment B? Opt for this course of medical treatment or at the beginning: with the facts. Chang Step 4: Distinguish Yourself
that one? The answer isn’t always obvious, and the fear of making a argues that studying the alternatives, In going through the exercise of list-
potentially disastrous move can send anxiety levels skyrocketing or making pros and cons lists and work- ing the facts, pondering the possi-
allow paralysis to set in. ing out the hypotheticals is important bilities and letting sentiments play a
and unavoidable. However, if you’ve part in decision-making, remember
Despite these pitfalls, empower- thinking, in truly complex situations, studied all the options that hard choices are an
ment is possible – it’s a matter of shift- there is no right answer and no one and a clear d ecision opportunity.
ing our mindset. Here are some steps option better than another. “So when doesn’t rise to the top, “When we pick be-
to feeling liberated in the quest to find we face hard choices,” she says, “we don’t get stuck. Move on
Sixty-five per tween options that are
answers. shouldn’t tear our hair out trying to to the next step. cent of executives on a par, we can do
figure out which alternative is better.” said that something rather re-
Step 1: Take It Easy If you need further incentive to ease Step 3: Dig Deep subjective markable: we can put
“Most of the paralysis in decision- up on yourself, consider a 2012 study Life coach Erica Dia- our very selves behind
elements
making comes from assuming the published in the Journal of Personal- mond knows that finding an option. And what we
world has the right answer and we’re ity and Social Psychology which found the answers to life’s truly influenced their put our agency behind
just too stupid to figure it out,” says that anxiety clouds your judgment and tough questions requires choices really does define what
Ruth Chang, a philosopher at Rutgers makes you more likely to seek outside a one-two punch. matters to us and who
University in New Jersey. counsel and act on bad advice. “We often think that we are,” says Chang.
Not so, she insists. Chang studies decision-making is all logic,” Diamond “You might say that we become the
the process of making hard choices Step 2: Do the Grunt Work says. “But the best decisions are made authors of our own lives.”
and has outlined a new framework While less-demanding decision- with a combination of intellect and Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of
for those tough calls. According to her making is your goal, you still have instinct. Good strategists collect infor- Amazon, would likely agree. In a
mation based on these two things until speech he gave to Princeton Uni-
they feel that they can make a good versity’s graduating class of 2010, he
decision.” echoed Chang’s philosophy, outlining
In research released in 2014 by Time why we should view decision-making
THE GADGET Inc.’s Fortune Knowledge Group and as empowering.
global advertising firm Gyro, 62 per “When you are 80 years old and, in
Want to try out a totally 21st-century method of decision- cent of executives admitted to relying a quiet moment of reflection, narrating
making? Turn to somethingpop.com for answers about where on gut feelings and other unquantifi- for only yourself the most personal
to work, live and invest. Created by financial-tech whiz-kid
able factors, while 65 per cent said that version of your life story, the telling that
Ben Gimpert, the free web tool allows you to plug in and assign
a weighted percentage to your priorities, such as holiday subjective elements influenced the will be most compact and meaningful
time, pay and office environment. A quick analysis of the choices they made. will be the series of choices you have
numbers and – bam – the choice is made. “Any big decisions can’t be made in made. In the end, we are our choices.
a vacuum of analytics,” said Christoph Build yourself a great story.”
S2 | February•2017 February•2017 | S3
Your gift to Guide Dogs R E A D E R ’ SFA
D IM
G IELY
T RAV E L
ST
will touch many lives
SPECIAL
Family
Getaway
Ideas
Inspiration for
your next big
adventure
It costs over $35,000 to breed, raise and train an amazing
PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION CREDI T
Guide Dog like Teena, who was provided free-of-charge to Beth.
For Beth, having a Guide Dog doesn’t just mean independence.
It means being the mum she wants to be to her three children.
Please leave a gift in your Will to Guide Dogs, Australia’s most
trusted charity and help make sure that when someone loses
their sight, they don’t lose their freedom as well.
1800 GUIDE DOGS guidedogsaustralia.com
February•2017 | S5
FFA
A MM
A Room with a Zoo...
I LYG E T A W AY I D E A S
I LY
T RAV E L
SPECIAL
Palm
Beach and
Barrenjoey
Lighthouse
Family Day Trips From
Home on One Tank BY GREG BARTON
Local day trips are fun and easy on the wallet
Here are the best day trips from your walkable hill, plus several lovely cafés
capital city for attractions and scenery – perfect after all that walking. Even
(trip times based on average mileage). better, ferries depart regularly from Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra offers 3 very different accommodation
Palm Beach to more quick-trip hidden facilities and is amongst the most unique animal lodges in the world. You
1 SYDNEY gems further north, including lovely
can stay in uShaka Lodge with its own shark tank, in a Jungle Bungalow
Want a short road trip with a Patonga Beach for delicious fish and
virtually built into the habitat of a bear, lion, tiger or cheetah, or in a
Giraffe Treehouse where you hand feed your tall neighbour. Included are
spectacular pay-off? Your best bet is chips or the tremendous beer garden
afternoon and morning tours, 5 star accommodation, gourmet meals and
to head to Palm Beach, just a jaunty at the Patonga Beach Hotel.
fine wines. Dining is in the uShaka Lodge tropical rainforest cave where
hour’s drive north of the CBD. Perched
2
you will be joined by magnificent white lions and hyenas.
at the tip of one of the world’s most MELBOURNE
exclusive peninsulas, ‘Palmie’ is the Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is
famous shooting location of Home and of course a world-beating drive
PHOTOS: iSTOCK
Away’s Summer Bay. Other highlights – but if you don’t have much time,
include a gem of a nine-hole golf opt instead for the 100 km trip south to
course, the postcard-cute Barrenjoey Queenscliff instead. The former Ph: 02 6287 8444 | Fax: 02 6287 8403 Email: info@jamalawildlifelodge.com.au
Lighthouse atop a challenging yet fishing village at the mouth of Port Web: www.jamalawildlifelodge.com.au Address: 999 Lady Denman Drive, Canberra ACT 2611
S6 | February•2017
F A M I LY G E T A W AY I D E A S
Phillip is wall to wall with heritage- Heysen Trail and Flinders Ranges
listed hotels, cottages, churches and are accessible outback at its finest,
other fascinating finds. Its three Hahndorf is quaint and historic,
excellent museums – Queenscliff Kangaroo Island is world class – yet
Hi s t o r i ca l , Ma r i t i m e a n d Fo r t it’s the wine regions that steal the
Queenscliff – will keep you enthralled show. Clare Valley, Barossa, McLaren
for hours. Another great day trip is Vale, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra …
across to Phillip Island for a little these industry giants and half a
penguin viewing. dozen more are all within short-range
driving distance, with the Adelaide
3 BRISBANE
Day trips from Brisbane rarely
get as indulgent and sun-blessed
Hills region beginning just 40 minutes
from the CBD. The home of Penfolds
Grange, Jacob’s Creek and Yalumba,
as the 90 km drive north to the South Australia produces more than
Sunshine Coast. Setting your sights on half of all of Australia’s wine. It’s time
gorgeous Noosa, along the way you’ll you found out why.
find Bribie, Moreton and Stradbroke
islands – all worthy of day trips in
their own right. Delightful mountain
villages such as Montville or Maleny
5 PERTH
Rottnest Island remains one of
Perth’s top day-trip destinations,
boast Glass House Mountains views but we’re discounting it because it
as well as art galleries and eateries. doesn’t involve driving. In fact, one of
And then there’s Noosa; tailor-made its main draws is that visitors can’t
for backpackers and billionaires alike, take cars there at all, making it perfect
this beach- and river-side playground for cyclists and walkers. For a terrific
satisfies walkers, golfers, paddlers,
swimmers, divers, birdwatchers,
artists… you name it. Your biggest
regret will be limiting your trip to
a single day.
4 ADELAIDE
More than any other capital,
Adelaide has an abundance
of treasures on its doorstep.
Glenelg Beach is stunning, the
Fraser Island – just north of Noosa
on the Sunshine Coast – is waiting
S8 | February•2017
F A M I LY G E T A W AY I D E A S
drive, we suggest the winery, café
and art-gallery rich Swan Valley,
which begins just 30 minutes to the
northeast of the CBD. Or for the
more ambitious, drive two more
hours north along the coast to
Nambung National Park and the
eerie moonscape of the Pinnacles
– f o u r- m e t re - h i g h l i m e s t o n e
formations, which are thought to Termite
be the bizarre, millennia-old mound at
accumulation of seashells. Litchfield
NP
6 HOBART
Australia’s second-oldest city
offers very special day trips for lovers
a day out is the National Zoo and
Aquarium, which is situated in the
of nature and history alike. Convict- capital city; pretty Merimbula on the
era penal settlement Port Arthur lies Sapphire Coast for surf and sun (three
just 90 minutes to the south-east, hours; or a trip back in time to historic
while spectacular Lake St Clair Bungendore, with numerous circa
National Park is a very attainable two 1800s buildings, local bushranger
and a half hours north-west. lore, antique shopping and quaint
But for something equally cafés. Delightful.
impressive and a lot closer in, spend
a day at the Museum of Old and New
Art (MONA), just 11 km north of the
CBD on the Berriedale Peninsula.
8 DARWIN
We’ve saved arguably the best for
last – Litchfield National Park, around
Australia’s largest privately funded 115 km south of the NT capital. If
mus eum, MONA is Tasmania’s you’re in the Top End and simply
Guggenheim – and is guaranteed to don’t have the time to mount a trek
blow your mind. to vast Arnhem Land or untamed
Kakadu, you’ll find enough rock art,
7 CANBERRA
What time of year is it? If it’s
freezing out, consider the snowfields
waterfalls, swimmable rock pools
(only at certain times of the year –
there are crocs about, you know) and
P HOTO: iSTOCK
of Perisher, Selwyn or Thredbo – all giant termite mounds at Litchfield
of which are under three hours’ drive to satisfy even the most intrepid
from the nation’s capital. But if it’s traveller. And best of all, entry to the
on the balmy side, your best bet for 1500 km2 park is free!
S10 | February•2017
FFA
A MM I LYG E T A W AY I D E A S
I LY
T RAV E L
SPECIAL
AUSSIE
HELPERS
For more than fourteen years the People of Australia have supported
Aussie Helpers in helping to keep “The dream alive” in rural regions.
Without your wonderful support we could not achieve our objectives as
we receive no government funding, so good on you Australia for helping
to keep our Farmers farming, growing the best food in the world.
Five Ways Travelling as a family NO AUSSIE
to Simplify
can pose all kinds of
challenges. Try these FARMERS
Family Travel
simple strategies to make
your next outing a breeze NO
BY YUKI HAYASHI
Family breaks: we love ’em, we need TRUST OLDER KIDS TO DO THEIR
AUSSIE
FOOD
’em and we crave ’em – but at the same OWN PACKING Don’t knock yourself
time, they fill us with dread. From out micromanaging your teen or
never-ending flights (and security tween’s suitcase contents. Just brief
line-ups) to mid-trip illnesses or junior travellers on the specifics of
activity angst, travelling en famille can your trip: “Kids, it’s going to be sunny
have its challenges. The good news? A and warm – we’re talking shorts, tees,
PHOTO: I STOCK
little advance planning can make your sun hats. Mosquitoes are bad around
next family holiday or short break a lot dinnertime, so pack lightweight pants
PO Box 405 Charleville Qld 4470 | admin@aussiehelpers.org.au
easier. Try these parent-approved tips and long-sleeved shirts to wear to
for savvier travelling.
S12 | February•2017
dinner. Pack multiple swimsuits.
1300 665 232
w w w. a u s s i e h e l p e r s . o r g . a u
F A M I LY G E T A W AY I D E A S
If you want to go horse
riding, cave tubing or
hiking, remember to pack
adventure shoes. And don’t
forget to bring enough
underwear.”
DON’T OVER-SCHEDULE
Especially if you’re visiting
a sun-and-sand (or ski-
and-snow) destination.
Relax and do what comes
naturally, whether that’s
snorkelling, spending all
afternoon zipping down
the slopes, or sipping
mocktails under an umbrella while you’ll experience stress-inducing
your kids make new friends in the crowds, line-ups and possibly even
swimming pool. Enjoy the downtime: inflated prices. Customer service
it’s the reason for your getaway, right? tends to suffer, too. Instead, chill out
at your resort, or book private tours
LET KIDS CHOOSE SOME ACTIVITIES on the water or into the wilderness
AND EXCURSIONS Surprisingly, not on busy cruise-ship days.
all kids want to see the planetarium
or historic home of a city’s founders, SPEND SOME TIME APART We all
so invite yours to research a few cool know holidays are a time for family
sights and activities. This will get bonding, but sometimes you can get
them invested in the trip and cut too much of a good thing. Adults need
back on whining (not to mention adult interaction, and kids benefit “Your organisation gave me confidence in dealing with people.
help build their research skills). You from quality time with other small This assisted me to move up the ranks to a managing executive and I have
may even discover something new fry. Sign them up for a couple of always remembered that vital training.” Mr H, Retired Managing Executive, Vic.
yourself. afternoons at your resort’s kids’ club
or adventure camp. Or, if you hire a
CHECK CRUISE SHIP SCHEDULES babysitter, invite them to bring their
If you’re not cruise ship savvy, check own same-age child to hang out as
PHOTO: I STOCK
Cruise TT’s (cruisett.com) essential your kid’s guest. Mature teens enjoy
cruise ship schedule for global ports exploring resort amenities together,
of call. Avoid popular local attractions but review safety rules beforehand.
while cruise ships are in town, as And let them have fun!
S14 | February•2017
FA M I LY
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SPECIAL
Tech Essentials
for Your Family
Road Trip
Robert Liwanag offers
three must-have products
to keep kids entertained
1 GAMING CONSOLE
For any parent, helping your young
passengers pass the time on a road
trip can be a challenge. Here’s where They’re light, durable, padded and
gaming devices earn their place in come in a variety of colours.
the travel pack. The Nintendo 3DS XL For parents worried that their
gives players access to some of their children may be listening to music
favourite game characters – Mario, too loudly, LilGadgets’ headphones
Princess Peach, Yoshi and Pikachu – feature a volume-limiting option – in
in 3D! It also allows players to take and fact, it’s one of the few companies out
record 3D photos and videos. Parental there that actually makes headphones
controls, importantly, allow parents to specifically for kids.
manage what their kids can access on
the system as well.
3 FAMILY-FRIENDLY PODCASTS
Use commuting time to expand
2 KID-FRIENDLY HEADPHONES
Unwanted noise from games
while travelling in the car can be
your horizons by listening to podcasts.
The topics available are unlimited,
with subjects such as science, history
distracting for the driver and other and novel readings being among the
members of the family. Designed for most popular. The ABC has a great
parents, LilGadgets offers high-quality collection of regular podcasts – search
headphones for children aged three to online for ‘ABC podcasts’ to find one
eight that address parents’ concerns. that suits your audience.
S16 | February•2017
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